Contrary to phenothiazines, butyrophenones are very seldom associated with hepatitis. In particular, the incidence of hepatitis on haloperidol is about 0.002%. Almost all these cases consisted of cholestatic hepatitis. Cytolytic hepatitis induced by haloperidol seems to be exceptional.

To outline the occurrence of haloperidol-induced cytolytic hepatitis.

Case report and review

We report the case of a male patient aged 22, with a family history of schizophrenia in two cousins and with a personal history of generalized epilepsy on carbamazepine. The patient was admitted to our department for behavioral disturbances. Psychiatric interview found mystical and grandiosity delusions as well as auditory and visual hallucinations. The patient was started on haloperidol 5mg bid. Routine liver enzymes obtained on day-10 revealed eight-fold elevated transaminases with no associated biological signs of cholestasis. The patient did not report any symptoms suggestive of hepatitis.

Serology for viral hepatitis (A, B, and C), EBV and CMV was negative. Hepatic ultrasound examination was normal. Antinuclear, anti-LMK and anti-mitochondrial antibodies were negative. Serum and urine copper levels were normal.

The diagnosis of a drug-induced hepatitis was made. Haloperidol was withdrawn and switched to olanzapine. Transaminase levels slowly dropped then normalized within two months, thus consolidating our diagnosis.

Cytolytic hepatitis induced by haloperidol is very rare and can be asymptomatic. Routine liver tests when starting antipsychotics are crucially important to diagnose this possibly hazardous side effect.