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Reversible amiodarone-induced lung disease: HRCT findings
H Vernhet1, C Bousquet, G Durand
1Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Radiology, Hopital Arnaud de Villneuve, 391, avenue du Doyen Giraud, 34295 Montpellier, France. h-vernhet@chu-montpellier.fr
European Radiology
|August 21, 2001
Summary
High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) reveals characteristic findings in reversible amiodarone-induced lung disease (AILD). Ground-glass opacities, reticulations, consolidations, and bronchial abnormalities are key indicators of this condition.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonology
- Radiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Amiodarone is an effective antiarrhythmic drug.
- Amiodarone-induced lung disease (AILD) is a known adverse effect.
- Early diagnosis and management of AILD are crucial for patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the thoracic high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings in patients with reversible amiodarone-induced lung disease (AILD).
- To identify characteristic radiological patterns associated with AILD that resolve after treatment cessation.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of thoracic HRCT scans from 20 patients diagnosed with reversible AILD.
- Patient selection based on new respiratory symptoms during amiodarone therapy, exclusion of other diseases, and symptom/radiological improvement after amiodarone and corticotherapy cessation.
- Analysis of CT findings including ground-glass opacities, consolidations, reticulations, high-density areas, pleural thickening, and bronchial abnormalities.
Main Results:
- All patients exhibited ground-glass opacities.
- Commonly associated findings included thin intralobular reticulations (n=5) and/or subpleural consolidations (n=11).
- Bronchial abnormalities such as dilation (n=16) and wall thickening (n=19) were frequent. Pleural thickening (n=13) and high-density areas (n=8) were also observed.
Conclusions:
- Ground-glass opacities, thin intralobular reticulations, subpleural consolidations, and bronchial abnormalities are common HRCT findings in reversible AILD.
- These HRCT features, when present in the appropriate clinical context, aid in the diagnosis of reversible AILD.
- Radiological follow-up demonstrated complete or incomplete improvement after therapeutic intervention, confirming the reversibility of the lung disease.