Dexamethasone treatment of amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis (AIT) with or without persistent administration of the drug.
Treatment of amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis (AIT) with thionamide, lithium or radioactive iodine is ineffective. This particular form of hyperthyroidism is long-lasting because of the slow elimination of amiodarone. Therefore, an alternative therapy is necessary, especially for patients who need to continue permanent administration of the drug. We report 2 cases of AIT: in one case, amiodarone was interrupted; in the other case, amiodarone was continued because of recurrent ventricular tachycardia resistant to classical antiarrhythmic drugs. Both patients were successfully treated with propylthiouracil (PTU) and dexamethasone (DXT).
Bonnyns
M
M
Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Pierre University Hospital, Free University of Brussels, Belgium.
Sterling
I
I
Renard
M
M
Bernard
R
R
Demaret
B
B
Bourdoux
P
P
D000638:Amiodarone / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011441:Propylthiouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000188:drug therapy; D013971:Thyrotoxicosis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy
D011441:Propylthiouracil; D003907:Dexamethasone; D000638:Amiodarone