Amiodarone-Induced Pulmonary Toxicity: Percutaneous Needle Aspiration Biopsy and Ultrastructural Findings.
10.12771/emj.2013.36.2.144
- Author:
In Sook KANG
1
;
Jin Hwa LEE
;
Sun Hee SUNG
;
Seong Hoon PARK
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. pseongh@ewha.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Amiodarone;
Lung, toxicity;
Respiratory insufficiency
- MeSH:
Amiodarone*;
Arrhythmias, Cardiac;
Biopsy, Needle*;
Drug Toxicity*;
Half-Life;
Hemorrhage;
Humans;
Pneumonia;
Respiratory Insufficiency
- From:The Ewha Medical Journal
2013;36(2):144-148
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Amiodarone has been widely used for supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias and many patients benefit from its effectiveness in treating potentially life-threatening arrhythmias. However, this drug can cause multi-organ toxicity, including amiodarone-induced pulmonary toxicity (APT). Not only does amiodarone have a long half-life but also is lipophilic and therefore can easily accumulate in tissues. Hence, it is difficult to monitor therapeutic levels and side effects, making it difficult to predict toxicities. In this case, we describe multi-organ complications secondary to amiodarone use, especially APT combined with pneumonia with atypical pathogens and pulmonary hemorrhage. The patient reached a high cumulative dose of amiodarone despite a low maintenance dose of amiodarone. This case highlights an unusual presentation of APT with multi-organ toxicity and we review articles regarding the association between the cumulative dose of amiodarone and amiodarone-induced toxicities.
