AMIODARONE-INDUCED PULMONARY TOXICITY

Amiodarone is highly effective in suppressing ventricular and supraven tricular tachyarrhythmias. The most serious adverse reaction is pulmon ary toxicity. completely understood. Several forms of pulmonary diseas e occur including interstitial pneumonitis, fibrosis or organizing pne umonia. The incidence is generally lower with lower maintenance doses (less than or equal to 300 mg/d). There are no adequate predictors of pulmonary toxicity due to amiodarone. The diagnosis:of amiodarone-indu ced pulmonary: toxicity is one of exclusion. Treatment consists primar ily of stopping amiodarone application. Corticosteroid therapy can be life-saving for severe cases and for patients in whom withdrawal of am iodarone is not possible.