Final answer:
Acute cholestatic hepatitis and jaundice can be caused by drugs that lead to liver cell or bile duct damage, with antibiotics, anabolic steroids, and anti-seizure medications being common culprits.
Step-by-step explanation:
Certain drugs can lead to acute cholestatic hepatitis and jaundice by causing damage to the liver cells or bile ducts, disrupting bile flow or affecting bilirubin processing. The underlying mechanism often involves direct hepatotoxicity or an immune-mediated response. Liver function is impaired, resulting in difficulties with bilirubin conjugation and excretion. As a result, both conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin levels can rise in the bloodstream, contributing to the development of jaundice.
Examples of drugs known to cause such reactions include antibiotics like erythromycin and amoxicillin-clavulanate, anabolic steroids, and some anti-seizure medications. The liver damage may be due to a direct toxic effect or an idiosyncratic reaction, which is an unpredictable adverse drug response occurring in a small fraction of patients.