Low dose amiodarone pulmonary toxicity in a patient with a history of pneumonectomy

Abstract

A case of amiodarone pulmonary toxicity (APT) is described following a low dosage of amiodarone (200 mg/day) with serious respiratory insufficiency in a patient after right pneumonectomy. The patient was successfully treated by discontinuation of amiodarone, mechanical ventilation and prednisolone (40 mg/day). A literature study indicates that APT is a dose related toxicity. In our opinion a higher pulmonary drug concentration of amiodarone could exist from a change in pharmacokinetics because of a low fat storage in a thin patient and compensatory growth of the remaining lung which occurs after pneumonectomy. Given these findings we suggest that if amiodarone is indicated in such patients both loading and maintenance doses should be adapted.