Amiodarone pulmonary toxicity presenting as bilateral exudative pleural effusions

Abstract

Therapy with the antiarrhythmic drug amiodarone has been associated with drug-related side effects. In addition to pulmonary fibrosing alveolitis, anecdotal reports have alluded to incidental pleural involvement associated with amiodarone. We describe an unusual manifestation of amiodarone-induced pulmonary toxicity in a patient with bilateral exudative pleural effusions and toxic involvement of other organs. We review amiodarone-associated pleural reactions reported in the literature.