[Pneumopathies induced by amiodarone. Clinical, paraclinical and physiopathological data. Apropos of 2 cases]

The authors report the cases of two men with coronary artery disease by amiodarone for 8 and 24 months respectively. They developed clinical and radiological changes of diffuse interstitial pneumonia, characterised by an inflammatory syndrome, restrictive changes on spirometry, reduced CO transfer and abnormal blood gases. Broncho-alveolar lavage showed a lymphocytosis with a large quantity of iodine in the macrophages and the presence of amiodarone and its metabolite in the supernatant fluid. The responsibility of this drug is imputed and the patients were cured within 3 months of its withdrawal with regression of clinical, radiological, spirometric and control alveolar lavage abnormalities. A favourable outcome without steroid therapy is practically unknown in the literature. These cases illustrate the possible risk of alveolitis or diffuse interstitial pneumonia during long term amiodarone therapy, the pathogenesis of which is discussed: iodine overload, direct drug toxicity or an immunological mechanism.