Serum mucin antigen (CASA) as a marker of amiodarone-induced pulmonary toxicity

Amiodarone is used to treat life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. Amiodaron e-induced pulmonary toxicity (APT) can be difficult to diagnose. APT may re sult in increased mucus production and mucin expression. Thus, serum mucin- l was evaluated as a marker for amiodarone-induced pulmonary toxicity. Conc entrations of mucin-l in peripheral blood were determined using cancer-asso ciated serum antigen (CASA) assay in patients taking amiodarone. Eight of t en patients who developed major amiodarone toxicity had high serum CASA lev els. Patients with toxicity had a significantly higher mean rank CASA conce ntration compared with those without major toxicity. CASA shows potential a s a marker for amiodarone-induced toxicity, particularly pulmonary toxicity .