Hepatites medicamenteuses a la methyldopa: a propos de 3 cas

Between January 1991 and Janury 1992, we have collected in National Center of Pharmacovigilance, 3 cases of drug-induced hepatitis in which the responsability of Methyldopa was suspected. In 2 cases, we noticed a mixed hepatitis that associate an intense cytolysis, a cholestase and a hepatocellular insufficiency. Cytolysis, cholestase and hepatoceliular insufficiency evolved favouraby after stopping treatment in all cases. The great delay from treatment start [4 months to 5 years] and the previous hepatitis history in all cases, suggested a toxi mechanism for these drug-induced hepatitis. As Mehtyldopa is still used in many countries for its cheaper cost, we must take care before prescribing it by a good research of hepatic antecedents