Prevalence of antitiuberculous drug-induced cytolytic hepatitis of tuberculous meningitises

ABSTRACT

The aim of this work was to specify the prevalence and the description of scondary cytolytic hepatitis of the antituberculous drugs used in treatment of tuberculous meningitis in the intensive care units. Method: We have been included retro-spectively [January 1998 - December 2002] patients having a tuberculous meningitis treated with antituberculous drugs who developed a cytolytic hepatitis defined by an increase of the alanin-aminotransferase [ALAT] level more than two times of its normal upper limit. Six cases have been included among 74 patients [prevalence of 8,1%], three women and three men aged 17 to 45 years. The delay of apparition of cytolytic hepatitis varied from four days to five weeks. ALAT rates varied from two and half to 26 times the normal level. No other potentialy hepatotoxic medication has been prescribed. Three patients normalized their ALAT after reducing the rifam picin dose to half measure, in another case a definitive stoppage of isoniazid was required. Ytolytic hepatitis regressed spotaneously in one patient whereas another died as a result of a nosocomial infection. The prevalence of secondary cytolytic hepatitis of antituberculous drugs during treatment of tuberculous meningitis in the intensive care unit raised to 8,1%, the evolution is most often favourable after adaptation of doses