title: [Long-term efficacy and tolerability of amiodarone in children].
abstract: The authors reviewed the files of 37 patients under 15 years of age (22 boys and 15 girls) in order to study the long-term efficacy and tolerance of amiodarone therapy. The mean age of the patients at the time of initiation of amiodarone was 6.2 +/- 4.7 years. Amiodarone was prescribed at a loading dose of 500 mg/m2 and at a maintenance dose of 250 mg/m2. This drug was prescribed in second intention in 29/37 patients and as monotherapy in 15/37 patients. The treated arrhythmias were supraventricular in 25 patients (atrial: 10; junctional: 15) and ventricular in 12 patients. Underlying cardiac disease was present in 21/37 patients (57%) and the arrhythmias were postoperative in 14/37 cases (38%). Efficacy and tolerance of amiodarone were estimated on clinical and biological data, the results of Holter monitoring, ophthalmological slit-lamp examination and thyroid function tests. The average duration of therapy was 4 +/- 3 years. The efficacy of amiodarone was judged to be good in 59% and satisfactory in 38% of cases. Secondary effects and complications included: corneal deposits: 14 cases (38%); skin pigmentation: 1 case; photosensitivity: 10 cases (27%). There was a high incidence of thyroid disorders: 7 cases (19%) with 4 cases of biological or clinical hyperthyroidism and 3 cases of clinical or biological hypothyroidism.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Service de cardiologie infantile, CHU de Nancy, hôpital d'Enfants, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bosser
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marçon
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lethor
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Worms
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000638:Amiodarone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000638:Amiodarone
vernacular_title: Efficacité et tolérance au long cours de l'amiodarone chez l'enfant.