How does amiodarone cause pulmonary toxicity?

How does amiodarone cause pulmonary toxicity?

Amiodarone may induce the production of toxic O2 radicals, which can directly damage cells (9). It also appears to promote the accumulation of phospholipids in tissues (9). Typically, the lungs of patients with APT show a diffuse interstitial pneumonitis on microscopic inspection (Figure 1).

What are signs of amiodarone toxicity?

The clinical presentation of amiodarone pulmonary toxicity is very nonspecific. Common symptoms are shortness of breath, dry cough, fever, respiratory distress, and fatigue; sometimes it can mimic acute respiratory distress syndrome.

How is amiodarone toxicity treated?

Treatment of amiodarone pulmonary toxicity consists primarily of stopping amiodarone. Corticosteroid therapy can be life-saving for severe cases and for patients with less severe disease in whom withdrawal of amiodarone is not desirable.

What are the symptoms of pulmonary toxicity?

What are the symptoms of lung toxicity?

• Breathlessness during exercise.
• Fatigue.
• Dry cough.
• Shortness of breath.
• Discomfort or worsening symptoms when lying on your back.

Can you recover from amiodarone toxicity?

Treatment of Amiodarone Lung Toxicity Unfortunately, it takes many months to rid the body of amiodarone after the last dose. For most patients with the less severe forms of lung toxicity (IP, typical pneumonia, or a pulmonary mass), the lungs often eventually improve if the drug is stopped.

How long does it take for amiodarone to cause pulmonary toxicity?

Amiodarone-induced pulmonary toxicity can present acutely (hours to days after surgery or angiography) or chronically (months to years after starting amiodarone treatment). Acute toxicity (eg, acute respiratory distress syndrome) is rare but is associated with high mortality (up to 50%).

How to reverse amiodarone toxicity?

Gleadhill I. C.,Wise R. A.,Schonfeld S.

Goldschlarger N.,Epstein A. E.,Naccarelli G.,Olshansky B.,Singh B. Practical guidelines for clinicians who treat patients with amiodarone.

Steinberg J. S.,Sadaniantz A.,Kron J.,et al. Analysis of cause-specific mortality in the atrial fibrillation follow-up investigation of rhythm management (AFFIRM) study.

How to diagnose amiodarone toxicity?

unexplained cough or dyspnoea,especially in patients with underlying lung disease

suggestive X-ray abnormalities

clinical suspicion of pulmonary toxicity.

How does the heart drug amiodarone hurt your lungs?

wheezing,cough,chest pain,cough with bloody mucus,fever;

a new or a worsening irregular heartbeat pattern (fast,slow,or pounding heartbeats);

a light-headed feeling,like you might pass out;

blurred vision,seeing halos around lights (your eyes may be more sensitive to light);

Does amiodarone cause lung cancer?

Amiodarone lung toxicity probably affects up to 5% of patients taking this drug. 2 It is not known whether the lung problems caused by amiodarone are due to direct damage by the drug to the lung’s tissues, to an immune reaction to the drug, or to some other mechanism.