title: [Antiarrhythmic effect and side effects of amiodarone].
abstract: Amiodarone (AM) is one of the most potent antiarrhythmic drugs, the value of which is limited by reversible and irreversible side-effects (SE). 59 patients, 50 male, 9 female (age 33 to 81 years) entered the study with ventricular tachycardia (VT, 68%), WPW-tachycardia (12%), non-sustained VT (12%) or untreatable paroxysmal atrial fibrillation or supraventricular tachycardia (8%). Prior to AM the patients had received 1 to 8 different antiarrhythmic drugs (m 3.5) and maximal 9 different combinations of antiarrhythmics. The drug regimen started with a loading dose of 1200 mg/d for 1 to 2 weeks and was continued with a maintenance dose of 200 to 600 mg/d. The patients were followed up 1 to 41 months (m 14 m). The drug effect was evaluated using clinical criteria (recurrence of arrhythmias, death), computer-assisted analysis of several 24 hr long-term ECGs and programmed electrophysiological stimulation. Three- to six-monthly the patients were seen in our outpatient department for check up and blood-sample analysis (liver, thyroid gland etc.). Also in the majority of the patients frequent ophthalmological and dermatological investigations, as well as lung functions tests were carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  under AM therapy the initial arrhythmias were no longer detectable in 41% of the patients. In 37% a significant amelioration of the formerly life-threatening arrhythmias was found. 7 patients (12%), predominantly with reduced left ventricular function, died during follow up. No pulmonary, hepatotoxic or neurological SE were found. All patients developed reversible AM keratopathy. In 27% ETR and T4 were elevated, but only one patient developed hyperthyroidism with an increase in TT3. Another patient showed signs of hypothyroidism with an elevated TSH prior to TRH stimulation. Increased phototoxicity was found in 31%, whereas in two patients typical AM hyperpigmentation occurred, especially on the face. In conclusion, AM is a highly effective antiarrhythmic agent, despite a negatively selected collective, but it should only be used in patients with refractory arrhythmia in view of the SE.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000403:Airway Resistance / Q000187:drug effects; D000638:Amiodarone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003315:Cornea / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003318:Corneal Opacity / Q000139:chemically induced; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012880:Skin Pigmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D001572:Benzofurans; D000638:Amiodarone
vernacular_title: Antiarrhythmischer Effekt und Nebenwirkungen von "Amiodarone".