Hepatotoxicity after intravenous amiodarone.
Amiodarone is a class III antiarrhythmic agent with a long half-life which is used to control atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, including atrial flutter and fibrillation. We describe here the case of an elderly woman (77 years of age) who was hospitalized for acute atrial fibrillation, abdominal pain, and dyspnea. In the Emergency Department, treatment with intravenous amiodarone was begun. The following day, the patient developed acute liver damage; improved liver function occurred following the withdrawal of amiodarone. Complete recovery of liver function was documented after three weeks. Unfortunately, the patient died from a severe infectious disease, with multiple organ failure.
Cataldi
Angelo
A
Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Genova, 16132 Genova, Italy. angicat@libero.it
Gonella
Davide
D
Robutti
Nadia
N
Siri
Mario
M
Buonocore
Serena
S
Odetti
Patrizio
P
D000368:Aged; D000638:Amiodarone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D000638:Amiodarone