Amiodarone and pulmonary fibrosis.
Of 25 cases of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, confirmed by open chest lung biopsy between January 1979 and July 1981, 5 patients had been taking amiodarone in doses less than 600 mg daily for 1 to 6 years. No lung disease had been observed in any patient before the administration of amiodarone, and other drugs, factors and diseases thought to play a role in the causation of pulmonary fibrosis were ruled out. Two patients died of respiratory insufficiency, and only 1 does not now suffer from serious sequelae. Review of a further 5 cases reported in the literature and the present data suggest a causal link between administration of amiodarone and pulmonary fibrosis, and tend to indicate a hypersensitivity mechanism.
D000368:Aged; D000638:Amiodarone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000139:chemically induced*
D001572:Benzofurans; D000638:Amiodarone