Amiodarone-induced bilateral opticusneuropathy - a case report

We report a case of visual loss and bilateral papilloedema under therapy wi th the antiarrhythmic substance amiodarone, which is used in treatment of r efractory and life-threatening supraventricular and ventricular cardial tac hyarrhythmias. After excluding intracranial hypertension,local tumors and a n inflammatory genesis we consider this case to be an amiodarone-induced to xic opticusneuropathy. Amiodarone, a diiodated benzofuran derivative, is a cationic amphiphilic drug,which is able to cause ceratopathy and neuropathy . The rarely described and less known opticusneuropathy caused problems in differential diagnosis. A brief review about current knowledge of pathophys iology, differential diagnosis and course of illness is presented.