[Amiodarone-induced pulmonary toxicity].

Amiodarone is highly effective in suppressing ventricular and supraventricular tachyarrhythmias. The most serious adverse reaction is pulmonary toxicity. The mechanisms involved in amiodarone-induced pulmonary injury are incompletely understood. Several forms of pulmonary disease occur including interstitial pneumonitis, fibrosis or organizing pneumonia. The incidence is generally lower with lower maintenance doses (<or= 300 mg/d). There are no adequate predictors of pulmonary toxicity due to amiodarone. The diagnosis of amiodarone-induced pulmonary toxicity is one of exclusion. Treatment consists primarily of stopping amiodarone application. Corticosteroid therapy can be life-saving for severe cases and for patients in whom withdrawl of amiodarone is not possible.