title: Amiodarone pulmonary toxicity--three unusual manifestations.
abstract: Amiodarone is very useful treatment for refractory arrhythmias. However, it has a wide profile of adverse effects involving a number of organ systems. Pulmonary toxicity is the most serious of these side effects and often limits its clinical use. Three patients with unusual forms of amiodarone pulmonary toxicity are described. One had extensive unilateral alveolar disease, another pleural effusion, and in a third the pulmonary infiltrate improved with oral corticosteroids despite continuation of amiodarone therapy. Extensive unilateral alveolar disease and resolution of the pulmonary toxicity with corticosteroids despite continuing with amiodarone have not been previously reported. Pleural effusion has been noted only rarely. With the increasing use of amiodarone, pulmonary toxicity is likely to occur more frequently and it is important to be aware of its less common manifestations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Medicine, Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, Qld., Australia.
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: McNeil
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Firouz-Abadi
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.forename: P V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Zimmerman
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D000638:Amiodarone / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000139:chemically induced; D011859:Radiography
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000638:Amiodarone