[Increased liver density in computed tomography as a result of anti-arrhythmia therapy with amiodarone].
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether the hepatic density on CT scans of patients receiving amiodarone therapy differs significantly from the hepatic density of a control group not receiving the drug.


METHODS
Hepatic density was assessed by CT in 31 patients receiving amiodarone, 7 receiving short-term (12-14 days), 8 receiving mid-term (20-89 days) and 16 receiving long-term therapy (3-26 months), as well as in a control group of 15 patients.


RESULTS
Mean liver density of all patients under amiodarone therapy (77.9 +/- 11.7 HU) was significantly higher (p < 0.005) than in the control group (56.6 +/- 2.8 HU). The smallest increase in density was found in patients with short-term therapy (64.8 +/- 3.4 HU; p < 0.05), the greatest increase in patients with long-term therapy (85.0 +/- 8.9 HU; p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
In patients receiving amiodarone therapy, a significantly increased hepatic density on CT scans is observed. This finding has to be considered as a differential diagnosis to other hepatopathies with increased density of the liver.
Heuck
A
A
Institut für Radiologische Diagnostik, Klinikum Grosshadern, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München.
Mattke
S
S
Seemann
M
M
Müller
D
D
Beuers
U
U
Huber
A
A
Reiser
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000638:Amiodarone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000188:drug therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000187:drug effects*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D000638:Amiodarone
Erhöhte Leberdichte in der Computertomographie als Folge antiarrhythmischer Therapie mit Amiodaron.