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Amiodarone and pulmonary fibrosis

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Summary

Of 25 cases of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, confirmed by open chest lung biopsy between January 1979 and July 1981, 5 patients had been taking amiodarone in doses less than 600 mg daily for 1 to 6 years. No lung disease had been observed in any patient before the administration of amiodarone, and other drugs, factors and diseases thought to play a role in the causation of pulmonary fibrosis were ruled out. Two patients died of respiratory insufficiency, and only 1 does not now suffer from serious sequelae. Review of a further 5 cases reported in the literature and the present data suggest a causal link between administration of amiodarone and pulmonary fibrosis, and tend to indicate a hypersensitivity mechanism.

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Morera, J., Vidal, R., Morell, F. et al. Amiodarone and pulmonary fibrosis. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 24, 591–593 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00542206

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00542206

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