Amiodarone is an antiarrhythmic drug that can cause interstitial pneumonitis leading to pulmonary fibrosis. A 62-year-old man suffering from atrial fibrillation and recurrent dyspnea was treated with amiodarone. After 15 months of treatment, HRCT revealed bilateral interstitial and alveolar opacifications with high-attenuating pleural-parenchymal consolidations, suggesting amiodarone induced pneumonitis. Three months after cessation of amiodarone treatment, HRCT shows complete regression of pneumonitis. Amiodarone pneumonitis can be misinterpreted and mistreated in patients with further underlying diseases. The present case report demonstrates the diagnostic value of HRCT in the diagnosis of interstitial pneumonitis.
1. Harris L, McKenna WJ, Rowland E, Holt DW, Storey GCA, Krikler DM. Side effects of long-term amiodarone therapy. Circulation67:45-51, 1983
2.
2. Fraire AE, Guntupalli KK, Greenberg D, Cartwright J, Chasen MH. Amiodarone pulmonary toxicity: A multidisciplinary review of current studies. South Med J86:67-76, 1993
3.
3. Wilson JS, Podrid PJ. Side effects of amiodarone. Am Heart J121:158-171, 1991
6. Heger JJ, Prystowshky EN, Jackman WM, et al. Clinical efficiacy and electrophysiology during long-term therapy for recurrent ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. N Engl J Med305:539-545, 1981
7.
7. Gefter WB, Epstein DM, Pietra GG, Miller WT. Lung disease caused by amiodarone: A new antiarrhythmic agent. Radiology147:339-344, 1983
10. Magro SA, Lawrence EC, Wheeler SH, Krafchek J, Lin HAT, Wyndham CRC. Amiodarone pulmonary toxicity: Prospective evaluation of serial pulmonary function tests. J Am Coll Cardiol12:781-788, 1988
11.
11. Jirik FR, Henning H, Huckwell VF, Ostrow DV. Diffuse alveolar damage syndrome associated with amiodarone therapy. Can Med Assoc J128:1192-1195, 1993
12.
12. Padley SPG, Adler B, Hansell DM, Muller NL. High-resolution computed tomography of drug induced lung disease. Clin Radiol46:232-236, 1992
15. Hurban Z. Pulmonary and generalized lysosomal storage induced by amphiphilic drugs. Environ Health Perspect55:53-76, 1984
16.
16. Camus P, Jeannin L. Speculation on the mechanism for amiodarone-induced pneumonitis (letter). Radiology150:279-280, 1984
17.
17. Akoun GM, Gauthier-Rahman S, Milleron BJ, Perrot JY, Mayaud CM. Amiodarone-induced hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Evidence of an immunologic cell-mediated mechanism. Chest85:133-135, 1984
18.
18. Magro SA, Lawrence EC, Wheeler SH, Krafchek J, Lin HT, Wyndham CRC. Amiodarone pulmonary toxicity: prospective evaluation of serial pulmonary function tests. J Am Coll Cardiol86:4-10, 1988
19.
19. Standertskjold-Nordenstam CG, Wandtke JG, Hood WB, Zugibe FT, Butler L. Amiodarone pulmonary toxicity. Chest radiography and CT in asymptomatic patients. Chest88:143-145, 1985
