Hepatopathy in 4 dogs treated with amiodarone.
Amiodarone is a class III antiarrhythmic drug used in dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy and ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Hepatopathy is one of the more commonly reported adverse effects of amiodarone use in people. We describe 4 dogs that developed hepatopathy associated with amiodarone administration; 2 dogs also developed neutropenia. Three dogs had clinical signs of anorexia and lethargy; 1 did not show signs until impaired liver function had developed. Clinical signs or biochemical abnormalities developed 1.5-8 months after amiodarone treatment was started. Clinical signs resolved within 2 weeks of discontinuing amiodarone, but biochemical abnormalities did not resolve for 6-8 weeks. The delay between onset of liver disease and overt clinical signs suggests that serial evaluation of liver enzyme activities following amiodarone use in does is important.
Jacobs
G
G
Department of Small Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens 30602, USA.
Calvert
C
C
Kraus
M
M
D000638:Amiodarone / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000855:Anorexia / Q000139:chemically induced; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D012894:Sleep Stages; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D000638:Amiodarone