[Long-term efficacy and tolerability of amiodarone in children]

The authors reviewed the files of 37 patients under 15 years of age (22 boys and 15 girls) in order to study the long-term efficacy and tolerance of amiodarone therapy. The mean age of the patients at the time of initiation of amiodarone was 6.2 +/- 4.7 years. Amiodarone was prescribed at a loading dose of 500 mg/m2 and at a maintenance dose of 250 mg/m2. This drug was prescribed in second intention in 29/37 patients and as monotherapy in 15/37 patients. The treated arrhythmias were supraventricular in 25 patients (atrial: 10; junctional: 15) and ventricular in 12 patients. Underlying cardiac disease was present in 21/37 patients (57%) and the arrhythmias were postoperative in 14/37 cases (38%). Efficacy and tolerance of amiodarone were estimated on clinical and biological data, the results of Holter monitoring, ophthalmological slit-lamp examination and thyroid function tests. The average duration of therapy was 4 +/- 3 years. The efficacy of amiodarone was judged to be good in 59% and satisfactory in 38% of cases. Secondary effects and complications included: corneal deposits: 14 cases (38%); skin pigmentation: 1 case; photosensitivity: 10 cases (27%). There was a high incidence of thyroid disorders: 7 cases (19%) with 4 cases of biological or clinical hyperthyroidism and 3 cases of clinical or biological hypothyroidism.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)