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Low dose amiodarone causing pseudo-alcoholic cirrhosis.
Amitalh Singhal1, Partha Ghosh, Shahid Anis Khan
1Department of Elderly Care, Lister Hospital, Corey's Mill Lane, Stevenage, Hertfordshire SG1 4AB, UK.
Age and Ageing
|March 5, 2003
Summary
Low-dose amiodarone (an anti-arrhythmic drug) can cause rare, severe liver damage, including cirrhosis, even in elderly patients. This case highlights the potential for serious hepatic toxicity with amiodarone, regardless of dosage.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Hepatology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Amiodarone is a widely prescribed anti-arrhythmic medication, particularly in elderly populations.
- While abnormal liver function is a known side effect, clinically significant liver disease is uncommon.
- Reported hepatic issues include hepatomegaly, cholestasis, acute hepatitis, and rare cases of liver failure.
Observation:
- This report details an unusual case of a patient developing cirrhosis.
- The patient was on a low dose of amiodarone.
- The presentation mimicked alcoholic cirrhosis.
Findings:
- Severe hepatic toxicity, specifically cirrhosis, associated with low-dose amiodarone is exceedingly rare.
- This presentation has not been previously documented in English-language medical literature.
- The patient's condition suggests amiodarone-induced liver injury.
Implications:
- Clinicians should consider amiodarone toxicity in patients with unexplained cirrhosis, even on low doses.
- This case underscores the importance of monitoring liver function in patients taking amiodarone long-term.
- Further research may be needed to understand the mechanisms of amiodarone-induced liver injury at lower doses.