Skip to main content
British Heart Journal logoLink to British Heart Journal
. 1983 Nov;50(5):491–494. doi: 10.1136/hrt.50.5.491

Amiodarone associated alveolitis and polyarthropathy. Treatment by plasma exchange.

D C Russell, L Paton, A C Douglas
PMCID: PMC481444  PMID: 6639820

Abstract

In a case of severe alveolitis and polyarthropathy occurring within two to five months of starting amiodarone treatment high plasma concentrations of immune complexes were found, suggesting a drug mediated hypersensitivity reaction. Initial symptomatic response followed high dosage corticosteroid and immunosuppressant treatment, but reduction in the dosage of corticosteroids was achieved only by successive plasma exchange with concomitant reduction in plasma concentrations of both amiodarone and immune complexes.

Full text

PDF
491

Images in this article

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Harris L., McKenna W. J., Rowland E., Holt D. W., Storey G. C., Krikler D. M. Side effects of long-term amiodarone therapy. Circulation. 1983 Jan;67(1):45–51. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.67.1.45. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Heger J. J., Prystowsky E. N., Jackman W. M., Naccarelli G. V., Warfel K. A., Rinkenberger R. L., Zipes D. P. Clinical efficacy and electrophysiology during long-term therapy for recurrent ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. N Engl J Med. 1981 Sep 3;305(10):539–545. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198109033051002. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Kilpatrick D. C., Weston J., Irvine W. J. Some studies on the polyethylene glycol turbidity method for detecting immune complexes in serum. Ann Clin Biochem. 1981 Nov;18(Pt 6):373–377. doi: 10.1177/000456328101800610. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Rotmensch H. H., Liron M., Tupilski M., Laniado S. Possible association of pneumonitis with amiodarone therapy. Am Heart J. 1980 Sep;100(3):412–413. doi: 10.1016/0002-8703(80)90165-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Sobol S. M., Rakita L. Pneumonitis and pulmonary fibrosis associated with amiodarone treatment: a possible complication of a new antiarrhythmic drug. Circulation. 1982 Apr;65(4):819–824. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.65.4.819. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from British Heart Journal are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES