• Kenichi Kishimoto, Hiroshi Tobita, Masatoshi Kataoka, Tomotaka Yazaki, Akihiko Oka, Norihisa Ishimura, Kazuaki Tanabe, and Shunji Ishihara.
• Internal Medicine II, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, Japan.
• Intern. Med. 2024 Nov 21.

AbstractAmiodarone is an antiarrhythmic drug that is widely used for atrial fibrillation and other refractory arrhythmias. Although beneficial, its long-term administration is associated with adverse effects on various organs. One patient presented with amiodarone-induced liver injury, which led to liver failure. Computed tomography revealed a gradual increase in hepatic density over a long period following the initiation of amiodarone. Despite the discontinuation of the drug, the patient developed hepatic encephalopathy and subsequently died. This outcome highlights the drug's extended half-life, which caused persistent end-organ damage even after its withdrawal. Drug titration to the lowest effective dose and careful monitoring of annual liver function tests are important.

3 keywords...

hide…