AMIODARONE-INDUCED EPIDIDYMITIS - REPORT OF A NEW CASE AND LITERATURE-REVIEW OF 12 CASES

OBJECTIVE: To report a new case and review the literature of amiodaron e-related epididymitis to improve knowledge of the clinical characteri stics of this reaction. DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary out-pa tient arrhythmia clinic. PATIENTS: Males currently treated for arrhyth mias with amiodarone for at least two months. Thirty-two patients were identified and all were contacted. OUTCOME MEASURES: Swelling and or/ pain in the scrotum with confirmation of noninfectious epididymitis by a urologist. DATA SOURCES: Bibliography (Medline and Embase) and data bases (Manufacturer, Health Protection Branch, World Health Organisati on). STUDY SELECTION: Four articles with case reports. Databases searc hed for these key words: amiodarone and epididymitis. RESULTS: A new c ase is reported. Twelve cases have been presented individually and six more described collectively. Times to onset range from four to 71 mon ths, daily doses range from 200 to 800 mg. The reaction is self-limite d, with or without amiodarone reduction, and does not require antimicr obial drugs, but a noninvasive urological examination may be warranted . CONCLUSION: Awareness by cardiologists will prevent unnecessary inva sive urological investigations or antibiotic therapy.