[Prajmalium bitartrat-induced liver damage (author's transl)].

Liver damage was found in five patients (three men, two women) who were receiving prajmalium bitartrate. The cause was proven by re-exposure which was positive in all instances. The illness tended to start with acute fever and severe upper abdominal pains. When the drug was continued in one case, laparotomy was performed for suspected obstructive jaundice. Another patient had been admitted for operation because of jaundice. On re-exposure the most striking feature was a definite rise in glutamate-dehydrogenase. Prajmalium bitartrate is thus no better tolerated by the liver than ajmalin: both clinically, biochemically and morphologically the two drugs affect the liver similarly.