HEPATOTOXICITY OF ANESTHETICS AND OTHER CENTRAL-NERVOUS-SYSTEM DRUGS

A large number of anesthetics, tranquilizers, hypnotic sedatives, and anticonvulsants are used clinically. Although these agents are general ly well tolerated, liver injury of differing patterns is well recogniz ed with their use. Knowledge of the likelihood of hepatotoxicity and t he characteristic clinical features with these compounds is important as fatal outcomes due to liver failure have been reported with several of these agents. This article describes the potential mechanisms and clinical features of drug hepatotoxicity associated with these compoun ds.