Amiodarone-induced pulmonary toxicity

Amiodarone-induced pulmonary toxicity is a critical and potentially fatal side effect of amiodarone. Our study was designed to reveal its clinical features, including KL-6, as an interstitial marker. The medical records of eight patients (five men and three women) with amiodarone-induced pulmonary toxicity, who had been referred to our hospital, were examined. The mean age at the initiation of amiodarone was 48 years (range, 54-87 years) and mean duration of medication prior to the development of pulmonary toxicity was 18 months (range, 7-33 months). Serum KL-6 was elevated in six of the eight patients with a range of 525-2915 U/mL. Chest computed tomography (CT) findings showed non-segmental consolidation and/or ground glass opacity. Foamy macrophages were found in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids of all examined patients and in transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) specimens in half of the examined patients. We concluded that serum KL-6, chest CT findings, and foamy macrophages in BAL fluids and TBLB specimens will be helpful for the diagnosis of amiodarone-induced pulmonary toxicity.