Amiodarone-induced severe hepatitis mediated by immunological mechanisms.

A 64-year-old man developed a fulminant hepatitis 4 days after initiation of amiodarone treatment and a total dose of 7.1 g. The direct Coombs test was positive and became negative again soon after stopping treatment. Immediately after stopping treatment the extremely increased parameters of hepatic failure returned to normal again. A rechallenge with 200 mg of amiodarone was accompanied by a positive Coombs test which again became negative after several days. We conclude that the occurrence of an acute hepatitis soon after initiation of amiodarone treatment is mediated by immunological mechanisms. There should be high vigilance with respect to this rare life-threatening adverse drug reaction.