Amiodarone-induced Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Developed after Increasing Dosage of Amiodarone

ABSTRACT

Amiodarone is a highly effective antiarrhythmic agent. It is commonly used to treat ventricular and supraventricular arrhythmias. However, amiodarone has been found to be associated with a variety of adverse effects. Amiodarone causes toxicity to organs such as lung, gastrointestinal tract, liver, eye, thyroid gland, skin, and neuromuscular system. Among these side effects, pulmonary toxicity is one of the most serious ones. The prevalence of amiodarone-induced pulmonary toxicity is not known precisely, but recent studies have reported that incidence rates range from 1% to 13%. The risk factors associated with the development of pulmonary toxicity are age, duration of treatment, cumulative dosage, history of cardiothoracic surgery, and use of high oxygen mixture. Amiodarone use has been rarely related to development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which is often in association with surgery or pulmonary angiography. We experienced a case of amiodarone-induced ARDS which developed after an increase of amiodarone dosage.