Vnitr Lek 2009, 55(10):976-980

Skin adverse effects of amiodarone

S. Zgažarová^*, H. Jedličková, V. Vašků

I. dermatovenerologická klinika Lékařské fakulty MU a FN u sv. Anny Brno, přednosta doc. MUDr. Vladimír Vašků, CSc.

Background:
Amiodarone has belonged to frequently used antiarrhythmic in the treatment of supraventricular and ventricular tachyarrhytmias since the sixties of the twentieth century. Amiodarone is a chemically iodinated benzofuran derivative with mono-N-desethylamiodarone as its major metabolite.

Objective: This review is focused on numerous adverse reactions. The incidence of amiodarone induced side-effects ranges from 16-98% of patients receiving amiodarone and it appears to be dose related.

Case reports: We describe three cases of hyperpigmentation after using amiodarone in elder men.

Conclusion: Skin side effects are common, they usually occur as photosensitivity, more rarely as a slate-grey discoloration of the skin. Amiodarone induced slate-grey pigmentation is commonly observed in unprotected light exposed skin. Its incidence ranges from 2-57%. Hyperpigmentation is due to accumulation of amiodarone and its metabolites in the skin.

Keywords: amiodarone; photosensitivity; hyperpigmentation; adverse effects

Received: January 26, 2009; Accepted: March 26, 2009; Published: October 1, 2009  Show citation