[Examining the effect of amiodarone on the lung: prospective follow-up data]

Amiodarone (A) that belongs to Class III antiarrhythmics is a highly antiarrhythmic agents not only in treating, but in preventing various cardiac arrhythmias. However, its prolonged treatment may have an adverse life-threatening effect on the lung in 1-10% of patients. The purpose of our study was to verify the safe effect of A on the lung. Forty-one patients receiving A were examined in the period of its saturation and for the following 6 months. A hundred and forty-nine patients treated with its maintaining doses long (for 11 years) were also studied. Lung X-ray films and spirograms were repeated every 1-3 months at the beginning of therapy and then every 6 months. Side pulmonary effects were not observed. The findings may lead to the conclusion that comparatively small maintaining doses of A are safe for the patient.