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[The pulmonary toxicity of amiodarone in our hospital: apropos 8 cases]

F Nistal de Paz1, J Allende González, B Herrero Fernández

  • 1Sección de Neumología, Complejo Hospitalario del Insalud, León.

Anales De Medicina Interna (Madrid, Spain : 1984)
|February 1, 1993
PubMed

Insights

Pulmonary toxicity from amiodarone (PTA) can occur even with low doses, primarily affecting elderly patients within five years of treatment. Promptly stopping amiodarone and using steroids improves prognosis.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Pulmonology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Amiodarone is an effective antiarrhythmic drug.
  • Pulmonary toxicity is a known adverse effect of amiodarone.
  • Pulmonary toxicity from amiodarone (PTA) presents diagnostic challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe the clinical characteristics of PTA in a series of cases.
  • To highlight key features of PTA onset and presentation.
  • To emphasize diagnostic and prognostic aspects of PTA.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective case series of 8 patients with PTA.
  • Clinical and radiological data review.
  • Analysis of amiodarone dosage, treatment duration, and patient demographics.

Main Results:

  • PTA observed with low amiodarone doses (≤400 mg/day).
  • Affected patients were elderly (63-77 years).
  • Onset typically within the first five years of amiodarone treatment; dyspnea was the most frequent symptom.
  • PTA diagnosis is primarily clinical-radiological, requiring differential diagnosis due to lack of unique biomarkers.

Conclusions:

  • PTA can manifest with low-dose amiodarone in elderly patients.
  • Early diagnosis and discontinuation of amiodarone are crucial.
  • Prognosis is generally excellent with amiodarone cessation and supportive steroid therapy.

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