Clinical aspects of amiodarone pulmonary toxicity. 1990

J I Kennedy
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham.

Amiodarone pulmonary toxicity is a major clinical problem limiting the utility of this powerful therapeutic agent. The clinical manifestations of amiodarone lung toxicity are protean, but the most common presentation is that of an indolent illness characterized by dyspnea and often associated with cough and/or fever. Diffuse radiographic abnormalities are common, but localized infiltrates can be seen as well. The typical physiologic changes are the development of diffusing impairment and a restrictive ventilatory defect. In the absence of a 15% decline in DLCO from the pretreatment value, significant amiodarone toxicity appears to be unlikely. The diagnosis is made by the careful exclusion of other causes for the observed illness and the finding of clinical, radiographic, physiologic, and pathologic abnormalities compatible with amiodarone toxicity. Although the pathologic findings of amiodarone lung can be distinctive, the histologic demonstration of foam cells and ultrastructural lamellar inclusions alone does not distinguish toxic from nontoxic patients receiving amiodarone. If reasonable alternative antiarrhythmic therapy is available, amiodarone should be withdrawn. If the severity of illness warrants, a trial of corticosteroid therapy is reasonable. Some patients can be maintained on continued therapy despite toxicity, if the drug is deemed to be absolutely essential and clinical deterioration does not continue. The prognosis of patients who develop amiodarone pulmonary toxicity seems to be poor, but may be largely determined by the underlying cardiac disease.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008171 Lung Diseases Pathological processes involving any part of the LUNG. Pulmonary Diseases,Disease, Pulmonary,Diseases, Pulmonary,Pulmonary Disease,Disease, Lung,Diseases, Lung,Lung Disease
D011379 Prognosis A prediction of the probable outcome of a disease based on a individual's condition and the usual course of the disease as seen in similar situations. Prognostic Factor,Prognostic Factors,Factor, Prognostic,Factors, Prognostic,Prognoses
D001992 Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid Washing liquid obtained from irrigation of the lung, including the BRONCHI and the PULMONARY ALVEOLI. It is generally used to assess biochemical, inflammatory, or infection status of the lung. Alveolar Lavage Fluid,Bronchial Lavage Fluid,Lung Lavage Fluid,Bronchial Alveolar Lavage Fluid,Lavage Fluid, Bronchial,Lavage Fluid, Lung,Pulmonary Lavage Fluid,Alveolar Lavage Fluids,Bronchial Lavage Fluids,Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluids,Lavage Fluid, Alveolar,Lavage Fluid, Bronchoalveolar,Lavage Fluid, Pulmonary,Lavage Fluids, Alveolar,Lavage Fluids, Bronchial,Lavage Fluids, Bronchoalveolar,Lavage Fluids, Lung,Lavage Fluids, Pulmonary,Lung Lavage Fluids,Pulmonary Lavage Fluids
D004417 Dyspnea Difficult or labored breathing. Orthopnea,Platypnea,Recumbent Dyspnea,Rest Dyspnea,Trepopnea,Breathlessness,Shortness of Breath,Breath Shortness,Dyspnea, Recumbent,Dyspnea, Rest,Dyspneas, Rest
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000638 Amiodarone An antianginal and class III antiarrhythmic drug. It increases the duration of ventricular and atrial muscle action by inhibiting POTASSIUM CHANNELS and VOLTAGE-GATED SODIUM CHANNELS. There is a resulting decrease in heart rate and in vascular resistance. Amiobeta,Amiodarex,Amiodarona,Amiodarone Hydrochloride,Amiohexal,Aratac,Braxan,Corbionax,Cordarex,Cordarone,Kordaron,L-3428,Ortacrone,Rytmarone,SKF 33134-A,Tachydaron,Trangorex,Hydrochloride, Amiodarone,L 3428,L3428,SKF 33134 A,SKF 33134A

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