Lymphocyte cytotoxicity to halothane altered hepatocytes in patients with severe hepatic necrosis following halothane anaesthesia.

Lymphocytes from three of four patients with severe unexplained hepatitis following halothane anaesthesia were cytotoxic in vitro for liver cells isolated from rabbits following halothane anaesthesia, and less so for control hepatocytes. While the latter reaction could be blocked by addition of a purified liver membrane lipoprotein (LSP), this had no effect on the cytotoxicity to "halothane" hepatocytes. These results provide evidence that patients with severe halothane-associated hepatitis are sensitised to a liver cell antigen distinct from LSP, which arises as a result of halothane anaesthesia.