Cryptogenic organizing pneumonia due to amiodarone: long-term follow-up after corticosteroid treatment.
Cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (formerly known as bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia) is a clinicopathological entity with characteristical radiographic findings such as bilateral, asymmetrical, sometimes migrating, patchy infiltrates in chest radiograph and ground-glass opacities in computed tomography. The disease has been observed in the context of gastrointestinal disorders, certain lung infections, autoimmune-mediated diseases (such as Wegener granulomatosis), inhalation of toxic fumes, bone marrow transplantation and administration of drugs. The benzofuran amiodarone, a commonly used antiarrythmic drug for atrial fibrillation, can exhibit several pulmonary adverse effects, amongst them cryptogenic organizing pneumonia as a rarely diagnosed and published one. We report a case of cryptogenic organizing pneumonia secondary to amiodarone treatment, its clinical course with significant improvement of clinical symptoms within a few days after discontinuation of amiodarone treatment and administration of corticosteroids. Also the infiltrations found in chest X-ray and computed tomography responded well and showed remarkable resolution tendency quickly. During 5 months of corticoid therapy pulmonary abnormalities gradually resolved almost completely and remained equal during the 8 months follow-up after corticoid termination.
Schindler
Katja
K
Abteilung für Innere Medizin 1, KH Göttlicher Heiland, Vienna, Austria. Katja.Schindler@khgh.at
Schima
Wolfgang
W
Kaliman
Josef F
JF
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000368:Aged; D000638:Amiodarone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D018549:Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D000638:Amiodarone