ALPIDEM-INDUCED HEPATITIS - REPORT OF 4 C ASES, ONE OF WHICH WAS FATAL

Acute hepatitis related to psychotropic drugs has been rarely reported with anxiolytic treatments. Alpidem (Ananxyl(R)) is a new imidazopyri dine derivative with anxiolytic properties which was launched in Octob er 1991. Several cases of acute hepatitis, some severe, were described with this drug and its fiver toxicity was questionned. Results of a s tudy monitoring drug side-effects caused this drug to be withdrawn fro m the market for one year. We report four cases of acute hepatitis and discuss the role of alpidem. All but one case were presented as sever e acute hepatitis with hepatic failure. One patient ran a fulminant co urse and died despite liver transplantation. The mechanism of liver to xicity remains unclear.