[Hepatitis induced by alpidem (Ananxyl). Four cases, one of them fatal].

Acute hepatitis related to psychotropic drugs has been rarely reported with anxiolytic treatments. Alpidem (Ananxyl) is a new imidazopyridine derivative with anxiolytic properties which was launched in October 1991. Several cases of acute hepatitis, some severe, were described with this drug and its liver toxicity was questioned. Results of a study monitoring drug side-effects caused this drug to be withdrawn from the market for one year. We report four cases of acute hepatitis and discuss the role of alpidem. All but one case were presented as severe acute hepatitis with hepatic failure. One patient ran a fulminant course and died despite liver transplantation. The mechanism of liver toxicity remains unclear.