Cutaneous pigmentation secondary to amiodarone therapy.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
Amiodarone (Cordarone) is an iodinated cardiac antiarrhythmic drug that causes a slate-gray discoloration of the sun-exposed skin and a yellow-brown stippling of the cornea. Histopathologically, biopsy specimens of aminodarone pigmentation sites disclose yellow-brown refractile granules in the reticular dermis. These granules were characterized by transmission electron microscopy as being concentrically arranged intralysosomal inclusions ("myelinlike" bodies) in dermal endothelial cells and perivascular smooth-muscle cells. Electron probe x-ray analysis of these same inclusions disclosed definite peaks for iodine, evidence for the presence of amiodarone or a metabolite of the drug at these sites. Amiodarone, then, concentrates in lysosomes and causes an accumulation of lipids similar to what has been seen with other cationic amphiphilic compounds, such as the glycosphingolipid stored in Fabry's disease. Amiodarone must be recognized as a cause of a drug-induced lipid storage disease with cutaneous and corneal manifestations.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Trimble, JW; Mendelson, DS; Fetter, BF; Ingram, P; Gallagher, JJ; Shelburne, JD
Published Date
- November 1, 1983
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 119 / 11
Start / End Page
- 914 - 918
PubMed ID
- 6639112
Pubmed Central ID
- 6639112
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0003-987X
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States