British journal of anaesthesia
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Treatment with drugs and exposure to many environmental chemicals results in enzyme induction. However, the clinical significance of increased (or altered) metabolism of the inhaled anaesthetics appears to be trivial. Enzyme induction does not affect the conduct of inhalation anaesthesia. ⋯ Whether induction of halothane biotransformation and the production of reactive intermediates may lead to hepatoxicity is not yet settled. It is quite clear that induction, in the presence of hypoxia, leads to hepatic necrosis in rats. However, a similar relationship has not been established in surgical patients.