Halothane hepatitis patients generate an antibody response toward a covalently bound metabolite of halothane

The current work presents evidence that five of six patients with HH have a high titer of circulating antibody that recognizes the reactive intermediate of halothane (TFA), whereas ten patients exposed to halothane and not developing HH have minimal or no levels of this antibody. This paper, then, explores the association between titer/chronology of the anti-TFA antibody response and indicators/predisposing factors of halothane hepatitis in these patients with HH to determine if a cause (immune response)-and-effect (hepatotoxicity) relationship exists. Although the data presented here do not yet support a role for this humoral immune response in mediating liver damage, it is clear that, in patients developing unexplained hepatitis following halothane exposure, a persistent anti-TFA antibody response is elicited.