Hepatotoxicity of amiodarone.
Amiodarone, a commonly used antiarrhythmic agent, has numerous adverse effects. The purpose of this case report is to highlight its hepatotoxicity, an unusual complication of long term amiodarone therapy. Our patient is a 76-year-old man with underlying ischaemic heart disease and recurrent ventricular tachycardia. Eleven months after commencing amiodarone, he developed asymptomatic raised aminotransferases which resolved following drug withdrawal. Amiodarone was then reintroduced and four years later, the patient developed hepatomegaly, worsening liver biochemistry and histopathological changes consistent with early cirrhosis. His symptoms improved following discontinuation of amiodarone. However, hepatomegaly and a low serum albumin still persist four years later.
Jeyamalar
R
R
Department of Medicine, University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Pathmanathan
R
R
Wong
D
D
Kannan
P
P
D000368:Aged; D000638:Amiodarone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001706:Biopsy; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000473:pathology*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
D000638:Amiodarone