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Article Details

Clinical Image

Volume 6, Issue 4 (April Issue)

Blue Colored Skin and Atrial Fibrillation: Amiodarone Phototoxity

Fodor Lj1* and Coric M2

1Department of Internal Medicine, Nephrology and Hypertension, Medikol Polyclinic, School of Medicine, Croatian Catholic University in Zagreb, Croatia
2Department of Pathology, UHC Zagreb, School of Medicine, UHC Zagreb, Croatia

*Corresponding author: Ljiljana Fodor, Department of Internal Medicine, Nephrology and Hypertension, Medikol Polyclinic, School of Medicine, Croatian Catholic University in Zagreb, Croatia. E-mail: fodorlj@gmail.com

Received: March 14, 2024; Accepted: March 26, 2024; Published: April 15, 2024

Citation: Fodor Lj, Coric M. Blue Colored Skin and Atrial Fibrillation: Amiodarone Phototoxity. Clin Image Case Rep J. 2024; 6(4): 387.

Blue Colored Skin and Atrial Fibrillation: Amiodarone Phototoxity
Abstract

A 76-year-old patient was admitted with urosepsis and a medical history of long-term hypertension and coronary artery disease. Amiodarone therapy was initiated two years ago following successful conversion to sinus rhythm from atrial fibrillation.

The clinical presentation was dominated by a blue discoloration of the skin on the cheeks, part of the forehead, and eyelids. Patient's extensive outdoor sun exposure, without protection, in the medical history led us to suspect that the skin's blue discoloration may be an amiodarone therapy side effect. Laboratory testing revealed an erythrocyte sedimentation rate of 50 mm per hour (normal value, less than 15), a C-reactive protein level of 20.2 mg per liter (normal value, less than 5.0), and a white-cell count of 20.000 per cubic millimeter with 87% neutrophils (normal value, 4,000-11,000 mm3), urine microscopy: mass white and red blood cells.

A skin biopsy was conducted, and histopathological analysis revealed orthokeratosis in the epidermis, along with a mononuclear infiltrate in the papillary dermis containing numerous macrophages with brown pigment. Instead of amiodarone, a beta-blocker was introduced into the treatment for heart rate control. Six months after discontinuing amiodarone therapy, there was a full recovery in the dermatological condition and also remained in sinus rhythm.