Possible recurrence of amiodarone pulmonary toxicity following corticosteroid therapy

Amiodarone hydrochloride, a new antiarrhythmic agent, has been associated with pulmonary toxicity characterized by cough, dyspnea and diffuse pulmonary infiltrates. We describe a case of fibrosing alveolitis, diagnosed by lung biopsy, in a patient receiving amiodarone which responded to corticosteroid therapy. The pulmonary symptoms recurred after discontinuing corticosteroids, five months after amiodarone was stopped, and were associated with a persistent amiodarone level. To our knowledge, this recurrence of amiodarone pulmonary toxicity has not been reported previously.