Amiodarone Induced Blue-gray Pigmentation / 대한피부과학회지

ABSTRACT

Amiodarone (AD) is a benzofuran derivative that has been used for the treatment of recurrent arrhythmia and as a coronary vasodilator in Europe since 1964. AD-related hyperpigmentation develops after an average of 20 months of continuous AD treatment and with a minimal total dose of 160 g AD in less than 10% of the patients. A 49-year-old man presented with asymptomatic blue-gray patches that had slowly developed on the face over the previous 3 months. He had been taken amiodarone continuously for 39 months (cumulative dose: 974 g). A skin lesion biopsy from the face showed many dermal melanophages containing brown granules. The AD was discontinued and he begin using sunscreen and is courrently being followed-up. The skin discoloration was still evident, but slightly diminished at five month's follow up.