[Amiodarone in children. Impact on growth].

In this work, we report the results of the treatment with amiodarone applied to 9 children suffering from dysrhythmia resistant to conventional drugs. The initial dose was 800 mg/1,73 m2, administered for two weeks, followed by a 50% dose administered 5 days a week. The duration of the treatment oscillated from 9 months to 15 months (average duration: 13 months). Patients were kept under control for a period ranging between 9 and 33 months (average period: 17 months). A complete remission was obtained in 56% of the cases and partial success in 46%. The following side effects were detected: photosensitization in 2 cases; repercussion on weight, height, growth velocity, thyroid hormones and acceleration in skeletal age in 44% and 66% of them. These effects could be observed from 2 to 8 months after the beginning of the treatment. They persisted for 5 to 18 months after the treatment was arrested. The main side effect of amiodarone in children is presumably an initial effect of hypothyroidism, followed by a biological hyperthyroidism reaction. For these reasons we suggest that amiodarone should be restricted as an alternative product for resistant critical dysrhythmias and be used for a limited period of two years only.