Amiodarone-induced alveolar hemorrhage

• Published in: Southern medical journal (Birmingham, Ala.) Vol. 99; no. 4; pp. 383 - 387
• Main Authors: ISKANDAR, Said B, ABI-SALEH, Bernard, KEITH, Rob L, BYRD, Ryland P, ROY, Thomas M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 01.04.2006; Southern Medical Association
• Subjects: Aged; Amiodarone; Amiodarone - administration & dosage; Amiodarone - adverse effects; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents - administration & dosage; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents - adverse effects; Arrhythmia; Atrial Fibrillation - drug therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Care and treatment; Complications and side effects; General aspects; Hemorrhage; Hemorrhage - chemically induced; Humans; Lung Diseases - chemically induced; Male; Medical sciences; Pulmonary Alveoli; Tachycardia, Ventricular - drug therapy; United States; Antianginal agent; Medicine; Coronary vasodilator agent; Amiodarone; Antiarrhythmic agent; Iodine Organic compounds; Hemorrhage
• ISSN: 0038-4348; 1541-8243
• DOI: 10.1097/01.smj.0000208971.43461.bb

Amiodarone is increasingly prescribed for patients with ventricular and supraventricular tachyarrhythmias. Many adverse effects have been reported due to this drug and include injury to the liver, thyroid, cornea, skin, and neuromuscular system. Pulmonary toxicity is one of the more serious side effects of this anti-arrhythmic drug and is potentially fatal. Since the first case of amiodarone-induced pneumonitis was described in the early 1980s, amiodarone pneumonitis has been recognized as a distinctive and not uncommon form of drug-induced lung injury. On the other hand, amiodarone-induced pulmonary toxicity resulting in alveolar hemorrhage is rare. The authors report a patient with amiodarone-induced alveolar hemorrhage and review the literature.