Abstract

SILVA, Marta N et al. Amiodarone induced pulmonary fibrosis: A clinical case report. Rev Port Pneumol [online]. 2006, vol.12, n.6, pp.725-730. ISSN 0873-2159.

Amiodarone is an antiarrhytmic drug and it is used to treat supraventricular or ventricular rhythm disturbances. Nevertheless it is not free of side effects. Amiodarone-induced pulmonary toxicity is one of them and is relatively rare (5 to 10% of cases) and can be fatal. There are several cumulative factors that may enhance susceptibility to pulmonary toxicity, such as advanced age and pre-existing pulmonary dysfunction. We present a case study of amiodarone-induced toxicity (pulmonary fibrosis) in an 81-year-old man. The patient had been treated with amiodarone for five years in daily dose 200 mg/day. After withdrawing the drug and systemic corticosteroid therapy, clinical, functional and radiological improvement was observed. This case confirms the needs of a vigilant monitoring and early diagnosis of the adverse effects of amiodarone therapy, and the difficulty of diagnosing it due to the nonspecificity of symptoms, clinical findings, and test results.

Keywords : Pulmonary fibrosis; amiodarone toxicity.

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