Key result
Oral amiodarone can induce reversible facial angioedema that recurs rapidly upon oral rechallenge.
Why the study?
Allergic skin reactions to amiodarone are rare, and only a single case of amiodarone-induced angioedema had previously been reported in the literature.
Case Report (n=2)
Clinicians should recognize facial angioedema as a rare but potentially serious adverse reaction to amiodarone that resolves upon drug discontinuation and avoids unnecessary prolonged corticosteroid therapy.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Amiodarone may cause reversible facial angioedema; case reports leave open its incidence and risk factors.
Sir, Amiodarone, a class II long-acting anti-arrhythmic, capable of blocking both α and β -adrenoceptors is an iodine-containing highly lipophilic benzofuran derivative. Adverse reactions are common and are duration-dependent. Frequent reactions include nausea and other GI symptoms. Ten percent of patients may develop photosensitization (possibly due to phototoxicity) and bluish skin pigmentation, but allergic skin reactions are rare. The most serious sideeffect related to amiodarone is pulmonary alveolitis and fibrosis. Only a single case of amiodarone-induced angioedema has been reported in the literature. We came across two unrelated cases of angioedema triggered by the use of amiodarone in the last couple of years.
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Lahiri et al. (2005) conducted a case report in Cardiac arrhythmias (atrial fibrillation and cardiac rhythm abnormalities) (n=2). Amiodarone was evaluated on Resolution of facial angioedema upon amiodarone discontinuation and recurrence upon oral rechallenge. Oral amiodarone induced facial angioedema in 2 female patients (100%), which completely resolved upon drug withdrawal and rapidly recurred within 30 minutes to 24 hours upon oral rechallenge.
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