Ataxia: a diagnostic perplexity and management dilemma.
A 79-year-old woman presented with lower extremity weakness and unsteadiness for 2 weeks. She was recently diagnosed with refractory atrial flutter and was prescribed amiodarone. Physical examination revealed signs of cerebellar dysfunction. Neuroimaging including CT and MRI were unremarkable. Her hospital course included the development of ventricular tachycardia necessitating increment in amiodarone dose. Laboratory studies were unremarkable except mild transaminitis. Other workup including the one for paraneoplastic neurological involvement was negative. The patient experienced worsening of ataxia requiring assistance with ambulation. In view of comprehensive routine negative work-up for ataxia, recent use of amiodarone and worsening of symptomatology with increase in its dosing, drug-induced neurotoxicity from amiodarone was suspected. Amiodarone dose was subsequently reduced and mexilitine was introduced as an additive antiarrhythmic therapy for ventricular tachycardia. In follow-up, the patient experienced significant improvement in her symptoms and was able to ambulate independently. She was subsequently discharged to short-term rehabilitation.
Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Vincent Hospital, University of Massachusetss Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA.
Vinod K
VK
Chaubey
Lovely
L
Chhabra
Aaysha
A
Kapila
D000368:Aged; D000638:Amiodarone / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001259:Ataxia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001282:Atrial Flutter / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis*
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D000638:Amiodarone