Amiodarone-Induced Pulmonary Toxicity in a Patient With Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation and Recurrence of Pulmonary Toxicity

Abstract

Amiodarone is an effective anti-arrhythmic agent widely used for management of supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias. Amiodarone-induced pulmonary toxicity is one of the most serious side effects of amiodarone therapy. Patients who have developed pulmonary toxicity usually present with nonspecific symptoms such as cough, dyspnea, fever, and weight loss. Radiologically, amiodarone toxicity can manifest as a focal lesion or diffuse interstitial abnormality. Treatment involves immediate discontinuation of amiodarone and administration of corticosteroids for prompt recovery. Because of its long elimination half-life, pulmonary toxicity may initially progress despite drug discontinuation and may recur upon steroid withdrawal. In this manuscript, we presented a 62 years-old woman who developed pulmonary toxicity due to amiodarone therapy, recovered with corticosteroid therapy but relapsed after stopping this therapy, and finally recovered completely after long term use of steroid therapy.

Keywords

• amiodarone
• toxicity
• cardiomyopathy
• hypertrophic
• atrial fibrillation