title: Respiratory failure produced by severe procainamide intoxication in a patient with preexisting peripheral neuropathy caused by amiodarone.
abstract: We describe a patient in whom respiratory failure, due to extreme neuromuscular weakness, was produced by procainamide intoxication superimposed on a peripheral neuropathy secondary to long-term amiodarone therapy. Respiratory failure reversed rapidly after procainamide was discontinued, and the serum level fell to a therapeutic range.
authors.affiliation: Section of Pulmonary and Cardiovascular Medicine, Sinai Hospital of Detroit, Detroit.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Skupin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rubenfire
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bigman
mesh_terms: D000638:Amiodarone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D011342:Procainamide / Q000506:poisoning*; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012132:Respiratory Muscles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D011342:Procainamide; D000638:Amiodarone