Hyperglobulinemia in amiodarone-induced pneumonitis.
BACKGROUND
Amiodarone is a very effective antiarrhytmic drug. However its use may be accompanied by side effects. Hyperglobulinemia was not described in association with amiodarone treatment.


METHODS
Fifteen patients, who developed hyperglobulinemia while on amiodarone therapy, were identified among the patients hospitalized in our hospital. Serum globulin concentration was measured prior to, during and after amiodarone therapy.


RESULTS
In 11 of the 15 patients with amiodarone-associated hyperglobulinemia, amiodarone treatment had to be stopped because of amiodarone-induced complications, nine of them had pneumonitis. Mean serum globulin level rose during amiodarone therapy from 2.48 +/- 0.51 g/dL to 4.11 +/- 0.71 g/dL (p = 0.001), and declined after it was stopped to 2.80 +/- 0.49 g/dL (p = 0.001). In 50 patients treated by amiodarone, serum globulin was similar to that found in 50 patients with ischemic heart disease not treated by amiodarone [2.64 +/- 0.39 g/dL and 2.56 +/- 0.29 g/dL respectively (p = 0.21)].


CONCLUSIONS
In some patients amiodarone therapy may be associated with hyperglobulinemia. The incidence of this association is not known. Most of the patients with amiodarone-associated hyperglobulinemia have amiodarone-induced toxicity, mainly pneumonitis. Amiodarone therapy does not cause a general increase in serum globulins. Hyperglobulinemia may be a marker for a damaged organ, or it may have a pathogenetic role in the induction of pneumonitis.
Mouallem
Meir
M
Department of Medicine E, Sheba medical Center and the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Hashomer, 52621, Israel. mouallem@post.tau.ac.il
Antipov
Natalia
N
Mayan
Haim
H
Sela
Ben Ami
BA
Farfel
Zvi
Z
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000638:Amiodarone / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000097:blood* / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012712:Serum Globulins / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D012712:Serum Globulins; D000638:Amiodarone