Specific Organ Damage Induced by Cardiovascular Drugs

Specific Organ Damage Induced by Cardiovascular Drugs 1. Liver 

The second syndrome resembled active chronic hepatitis, which was confirmed by demonstrating confluent areas of lobular collapse with condensation of reticulin and an intense inflammatory cell infiltrate which contained plasma cells. Many of the individual liver cells showed ballooning degeneration and the presence of Con-citma bodies. 

The basis for incriminating methyldopa as a causative agent is that the hepatitis syndrome is dependent upon methyldopa administration, clears up when the drug is stopped, and reappears when the drug is reintroduced. Association between the drug and the active chronic hepatitis type is less distinct the condition may progress to cirrhosis even after the drug is stopped. 

It is perhaps difficult to challenge the evidence supporting a methyldopa-in-duced effect for both types of hepatoxicity, but there is not sufficient data, either clinical or experimental, to indicate that the syndromes are the result of hypersensitivity mechanisms. 

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