title: Diffuse alveolar damage in a patient receiving dronedarone.
abstract: Dronedarone is an amiodarone-like antiarrhythmic with a modified structure. The addition of a methyl sulfonyl group theoretically reduces the toxicity of amiodarone, specifically, adverse thyroid and pulmonary effects. Although animal studies have implicated dronedarone as a cause of lung injury, to date controlled trials in humans have not demonstrated an association. A 68-year-old woman developed a dry cough and worsening respiratory distress after receiving dronedarone for 6 months. Discontinuation of dronedarone therapy and subsequent steroid therapy led to a dramatic improvement of symptoms. Dronedarone may be associated with interstitial lung disease. We believe that patients receiving dronedarone should have their diffusing capacity of lung for carbon monoxide and lung volumes monitored prior to initiation of therapy and frequently thereafter.
authors.affiliation: Stanford University, Stanford, CA.
authors.forename: Shobha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stack
authors.affiliation: University of California, Davis, CA.
authors.forename: Dan-Vinh
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: Stanford University, Stanford, CA.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Casto
authors.affiliation: Stanford University, Stanford, CA. Electronic address: nkahuja@stanford.edu.
authors.forename: Neera
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ahuja
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000638:Amiodarone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy; D001706:Biopsy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D000077764:Dronedarone; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D000077764:Dronedarone; D000638:Amiodarone