RESUMO
We measured plasma concentrations of amiodarone and desethylamiodarone by HPLC in 44 outpatients aged 24 to 67 years old (21 male), receiving the drug during at least three months. The drug was indicated for supraventricular arrythmias in 37 patients and ventricular arrhytmias in seven. Plasma concentrations of amiodarone, desethylamiodarone and their ratio were 1.71ñ0.82, 0.85ñ0.42 µg/ml and 2.02 respectively, for a mean daily dose of 223ñ88 mg. In 41 patients, arrhytmias were succesfully treated. These patients received a mean daily dose of 220ñ86 mg and concentrations of amiodarone, desethylamiodarone and their ratio were 1.75ñ0.86, 088ñ0.45 µg/ml and 1.99 respectively. In 3 patients with treatment failure, receiving a daily dose of 257ñ115 mg, these figures were 1.2ñ0.3, 0.5ñ0.1 µg/ml and 2.4 respectively. We conclude that our patients had lower plasma concentrations of desethylamiodarone and higher amiodarone/desethylamiodarone ratios than those reported in other countries