Anicteric carbenicillin hepatitis. Eight episodes in four patients.

Carbenicillin disodium was temporally associated with eight episodes of a mild reversible anicteric hepatitis characterized by nausea, vomiting, and a tender, somewhat enlarged liver. Serum glutamic and oxaloacetic transaminase as well as alkaline phosphatase levels rose, but serum bilirubin values remained normal. There usually were no signs of concomitant allergy to penicillin, and other penicillins could be given subsequently without ill effects. Biopsy specimens of the liver showed spotty liver cell necrosis with no cholestasis.