Highlights the risk of amiodarone-induced interstitial pneumonitis and the effectiveness of drug cessation and steroid therapy for recovery.
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Prompt amiodarone cessation plus steroids may aid recovery in suspected pneumonitis; leaves open confirmation in prospective studies.
Amiodarone, antiarrhythmic drug of III class is used in patients with supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias, often with coexisting congestive heart failure. Side effects of amiodarone treatment are observed in approximately 75% of patients. Most dangerous are the symptoms of amiodarone pulmonary toxicity occuring in 2-17% of patients. We present a patient with COPD, in whom interstitial pneumonitis with radiologic features of organizing pneumonia developed after one year of amiodaron treatment due to supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias. The drug was stopped and steroids were introduced due to marked respiratory insufficiency. Regression of pulmonary symptoms and improvement of ventilatory parameters were observed after 3 months of treatment. Pathogenesis, diagnostic procedures and current methods of treatment of this jatrogenic disease are discussed.
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Pączek et al. (2008) studied this question.
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