Reversible hepatotoxic effects of diphenyl: report of a case and a review of the literature.

A case is reported of chronic persistent hepatitis in a 46-year-old woman poisoned with diphenyl, an aromatic hydrocarbon contained in the paper used to pack citrus fruit, with which this woman was in contact for 25 years. The etiology of the disease is discussed, along with its probable link to simultaneous digestive and cutaneous absorption of the product over many years.