Risk factors for amiodarone-induced thyroid dysfunction in Japan

Amiodarone is associated with a number of significant adverse effects, including elevated transaminase levels, pulmonary fibrosis, arrhythmia, and thyroid dysfunction. Although thyroid dysfunction is considered to be a common and potentially serious adverse effect of amiodarone therapy, the exact pathogenesis remains unknown because of its complex manifestations. Therefore, the prevalence of, and risk factors for, amiodarone-induced thyroid dysfunction in Japanese patients were investigated in the present study.

A retrospective analysis of patients treated with amiodarone between January 2012 and December 2013 was performed. A total of 317 patients with euthyroidism, or subclinical hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, were enrolled in this study.

After being treated with amiodarone, 30 (9.5%) and 60 patients (18.9%) developed amiodarone-induced hyperthyroidism and amiodarone-induced hypothyroidism, respectively. Ten (33.3%) patients with amiodarone-induced hyperthyroidism and 40 (66.6%) with amiodarone-induced hypothyroidism were diagnosed within two years of the initiation of amiodarone therapy. Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) [Adjusted odds ratio (OR) 3.30 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.26-8.90)], and cardiac sarcoidosis [Adjusted OR 6.47 (95% CI: 1.60-25.77)] were identified as predictors of amiodarone-induced hyperthyroidism. The baseline free thyroxine (T4) level [Adjusted OR 0.13 (95% CI: 0.03-0.68)], and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level [Adjusted OR1.47 (95% CI: 1.26-1.74)] were identified as predictors of amiodarone-induced hypothyroidism.

DCM and cardiac sarcoidosis were identified as risk factors for amiodarone-induced hyperthyroidism. Risk factors for amiodarone-induced hypothyroidism included higher baseline TSH level and lower baseline free T4 level, suggesting that subclinical hypothyroidism may be a potential risk factor for the development of amiodarone-induced hypothyroidism.