Pneumonitis and pulmonary fibrosis associated with amiodarone treatment: a possible complication of a new antiarrhythmic drug.

Six patients are presented who developed pulmonary infiltrates of undetermined origin while being treated for severe ventricular arrhythmias with amiodarone hydrochloride. Biopsy material was available in four patients and revealed interstitial or alveolar fibrosis and pneumonitis. Four patients recovered and two died of severe cardiopulmonary decompensation; all of the patients who recovered received corticosteroid therapy. Pulmonary fibrosis is a previously unreported complication of amiodarone therapy.