AMIODARONE
Amiodarone is a type III antiarrhythmic agent that has some structural similarity to thyroid hormone and has a high iodine content. Amiodarone treatment leads to substantial iodine overload and is associated with (1) acute, transient suppression of thyroid function, (2) hypothyroidism, or (3) thyrotoxicosis. These effects are only partially attributable to iodine overload. Hypothyroidism can occur in pts with preexisting thyroid disease, with an inability to escape from the suppressive effect of excess iodine. Pts with hypothyroidism can be easily managed with levothyroxine replacement therapy, without a need to stop amiodarone. There are two major forms of amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis (AIT). Type 1 AIT is associated with an underlying thyroid abnormality (preclinical Graves’ disease or nodular goiter). Thyroid hormone synthesis becomes excessive as a result of increased iodine exposure. Type 2 AIT occurs in pts with no intrinsic thyroid abnormalities and is the result of destructive thyroiditis. Differentiation between type 1 and type 2 AIT may be difficult as the high iodine load interferes with thyroid scans. Color-flow Doppler ultrasonography typically increased vascularity in type 1 AIT but decreased vascularity in type 2 AIT. The drug should be stopped, if possible, although this is often difficult to achieve without compromising the arrhythmia management. Amiodarone has a long biologic half-life, and its effects persist for weeks following discontinuation. Therapy of type 1 AIT consists of high-dose antithyroid drugs, but efficacy may be limited. Potassium perchlorate (200 mg every 6 h) can be used to deplete the thyroid of iodine, but long-term use carries a risk of agranulocytosis. Glucocorticoids in high doses are partially effective. Lithium can be used to block thyroid hormone release. In some cases, subacute thyroidectomy may be necessary to control thyrotoxicosis.
There's more to see -- the rest of this topic is available only to subscribers.
Citation
Kasper, Dennis L., et al., editors. "AMIODARONE." Harrison's Manual of Medicine, 20th ed., McGraw Hill Inc., 2020. harrisons.unboundmedicine.com/harrisons/view/Harrisons-Manual-of-Medicine/623419/all/AMIODARONE.
AMIODARONE. In: Kasper DLD, Fauci ASA, Hauser SLS, et al, eds. Harrison's Manual of Medicine. McGraw Hill Inc.; 2020. https://harrisons.unboundmedicine.com/harrisons/view/Harrisons-Manual-of-Medicine/623419/all/AMIODARONE. Accessed January 21, 2025.
AMIODARONE. (2020). In Kasper, D. L., Fauci, A. S., Hauser, S. L., Longo, D. L., Jameson, J. L., & Loscalzo, J. (Eds.), Harrison's Manual of Medicine (20th ed.). McGraw Hill Inc.. https://harrisons.unboundmedicine.com/harrisons/view/Harrisons-Manual-of-Medicine/623419/all/AMIODARONE
AMIODARONE [Internet]. In: Kasper DLD, Fauci ASA, Hauser SLS, Longo DLD, Jameson JLJ, Loscalzo JJ, editors. Harrison's Manual of Medicine. McGraw Hill Inc.; 2020. [cited 2025 January 21]. Available from: https://harrisons.unboundmedicine.com/harrisons/view/Harrisons-Manual-of-Medicine/623419/all/AMIODARONE.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - ELEC
T1 - AMIODARONE
ID - 623419
ED - Jameson,J Larry,
ED - Loscalzo,Joseph,
ED - Kasper,Dennis L,
ED - Fauci,Anthony S,
ED - Hauser,Stephen L,
ED - Longo,Dan L,
BT - Harrison's Manual of Medicine
UR - https://harrisons.unboundmedicine.com/harrisons/view/Harrisons-Manual-of-Medicine/623419/all/AMIODARONE
PB - McGraw Hill Inc.
ET - 20
DB - Harrison's Manual of Medicine
DP - Unbound Medicine
ER -