[Early-onset acute toxic hepatitis induced by intravenous amiodarone administration]

Amiodarone is a widely used and effective long-term antiarrhythmic drug but with known adverse effects. Prolonged oral administration of this drug has been implicated in numerous hepatic lesions, ranging from isolated, asymptomatic transaminase elevation to fulminant, fatal liver failure. Few cases of acute hepatotoxicity due to intravenous administration have been reported. We present a 69-year-old woman with atrial fibrillation who developed acute hepatitis within 24 hours of amiodarone infusion at the recommended dosage. The drug was withdrawn and laboratory findings progressively returned to normal over the following days. We analyze a possible mechanism of action for hepatotoxicity and highlight the importance of monitoring liver function in patients receiving this drug.