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Diffuse infiltrative lung disease associated with flecainide. Report of two cases
Sarah Pesenti1, Dominique Lauque, Ghislaine Daste
1Service de Médecine Interne, Pavillon Sénac, Hôpital Purpan, F-31059 Toulouse Cedex, France.
Respiration; International Review of Thoracic Diseases
|April 19, 2002
Summary
Flecainide use can cause lung disease. Two patients experienced subacute diffuse infiltrative lung disease with flecainide, which resolved after stopping the drug and receiving prednisone.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonology
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Supraventricular arrhythmias are commonly treated with antiarrhythmic drugs.
- Flecainide is a Class Ic antiarrhythmic agent used for various cardiac rhythm disorders.
Observation:
- Two patients developed subacute diffuse infiltrative lung disease during flecainide therapy.
- Radiological imaging showed bilateral subpleural opacities on computed tomography.
- Bronchoalveolar lavage indicated lymphocytic and eosinophilic alveolitis with a reduced CD4/CD8 ratio.
Findings:
- Open lung biopsy in one patient confirmed nonspecific interstitial pneumonia.
- Pulmonary symptoms resolved favorably after discontinuing flecainide and initiating prednisone treatment.
Implications:
- Drug-induced pneumonitis should be considered in patients on flecainide presenting with similar lung conditions.
- This highlights the importance of monitoring for pulmonary toxicity in patients receiving flecainide.
- Early recognition and management can lead to favorable outcomes in flecainide-induced lung disease.