Nitrofurantoin-induced chronic liver disease. Clinical course and outcome of five cases.

Adverse liver reactions associated with nitrofurantoin treatment are rare but important complications. Both acute and chronic liver damage have been described. The present report describes five patients who developed chronic liver disease after 1 to 3 years of continued nitrofurantoin treatment. Liver histology was consistent with chronic active hepatitis in four patients, while postnecrotic cirrhosis was observed in one case. Follow-up examinations 2 to 3 years after withdrawal of the drug showed marked improvement clinically and in most cases also histologically.