What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Case Report. Population: Acute amiodarone pulmonary toxicity (n=1). Intervention: Amiodarone.

What does this research mean for the field?

Amiodarone initiation can cause fatal acute pulmonary toxicity within days of treatment, which may be refractory to drug discontinuation and corticosteroid therapy. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

This case report examines the occurrence and consequences of acute pulmonary toxicity due to amiodarone after recent initiation in a patient.

May 20, 2026American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine

C42-40 Rhythm Control to Respiratory Collapse: A Case of Acute Amiodarone Pulmonary Toxicity

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Key result

Amiodarone initiation for AF linked to fatal acute pulmonary toxicity within 6 days.

Population

An 81-year-old man with COPD and paroxysmal AF post cardioversion

Design

Case report

Follow-up

Four weeks post-cardioversion

Authors

CMC MitchellVassar Brothers Medical Center ASA F SaritaVassar Brothers Medical Center IKI KaplanVassar Brothers Medical Center

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Low-certainty data against amiodarone benefit for MI hospitalization in AF; leaves open net risk-benefit amid pulmonary toxicity.

Key Points

This case report examines the occurrence and consequences of acute pulmonary toxicity due to amiodarone after recent initiation in a patient.
Detailed clinical evaluation of an 81-year-old man with COPD and atrial fibrillation post cardioversion initiated on amiodarone.
Investigations included chest CT, bronchoscopy, and infectious workup to determine the cause of respiratory symptoms.
Management involved discontinuation of amiodarone and initiation of corticosteroids.
Patient presented with dyspnea, hypoxemia, and hemoptysis after 6 days on amiodarone with subsequent respiratory failure.
Chest CT revealed bilateral ground-glass opacities; BAL was negative for pathogens.
Patient ultimately required intubation and passed away four weeks post-cardioversion, illustrating the severity of acute APT.

Study Design

Type

Case Report (n=1)

Structured PICO

Population

81-year-old man with COPD and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation post cardioversion

Intervention

Amiodarone initiated 6 days prior to presentation

Outcome

Acute amiodarone pulmonary toxicity (APT)safety

Acute amiodarone pulmonary toxicity can present as a fulminant, life-threatening complication within days of initiation, necessitating early recognition and discontinuation, particularly in elderly patients with underlying lung disease.

Cite This Study

Mitchell et al. (2026) conducted a case report in Acute amiodarone pulmonary toxicity (n=1). Amiodarone was evaluated. Amiodarone initiation for atrial fibrillation resulted in fatal acute pulmonary toxicity within 6 days in an 81-year-old man, despite discontinuation and corticosteroid therapy.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a0d5040f03e14405aa9bebd https://doi.org/10.1093/ajrccm/aamag162.3012

Topics

Atrial fibrillation Persistent AF management

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C42-40 Rhythm Control to Respiratory Collapse: A Case of Acute Amiodarone Pulmonary Toxicity

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Cite This Study

Topics

C42-40 Rhythm Control to Respiratory Collapse: A Case of Acute Amiodarone Pulmonary Toxicity

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Cite This Study

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