Can vitamin E be used in prevention of amiodarone pulmonary and hepatic toxicity?

ABSTRACT

Sixty mature albino rats were divided equally into two test groups and onecontrol group. Amiodarone, a widely used antiarrhythmic agent, was givenorally to rats of the first test group at a dose of 40 mg/kg body weight for30 days. The rats of the second test group were given the same dose ofamiodarone in combination with vitamin E at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weightintraperitoneally for the same period. Blood urea and serum creatinine wereinsignificantly elevated in the two test groups which also showedinsignificant ultrastructural and histopathological changes in the kidneys,heart and brain. On the other hand, the statistical analysis of the values ofserum ALT, AST alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin showed a significantelevation in the group given amiodarone alone and insignificant changes, whenvitamin E and amiodarone were given concomitantly except AST as compared withthe control group. These biochemical results coincided completely andconfirmed by the ultrastructural and histopathological findings in the liversof the two test groups. Also, amiodarone induced pulmonary toxicity wasreversed when it was given in combination with vitamin E. These resultsindicated that chronic amiodarone therapy can induce pulmonary and hepatictoxicity, which can be prevented or reduced by a simultaneous administrationof vitamin E with amiodarone. Thus, when ever possible, chronic treatmentwith this drug should be avoided or vitamin E is given in combination with thedrug to prevent its toxicity