SPECTROSCOPIC STUDIES OF CUTANEOUS PHOTOSENSITIZING AGENTS—IX. A SPIN TRAPPING STUDY OF THE PHOTOLYSIS OF AMIODARONE AND DESETHYLAMIODARONE

The photolysis of amiodarone (AM) and its major metabolite mono-N-desethylamiodarone (DEA), has been studied by absorption spectroscopy, electron spin resonance spectroscopy (spin trapping) and oxygraph measurements. Changes in the absorption spectrum of both AM and DEA upon UV irradiation indicate that both drugs undergo deiodination. Spin trapping experiments with 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane (MNP), α-phenyl-N- tert -butyl-nitrone (PBN) and 5.5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) suggest the formation of an aryl radical from AM during UV irradiation. Amiodarone also undergoes photoionization. Under aerobic conditions the photoelectron is scavenged by oxygen to give superoxide, which is trapped by DMPO. Oxygraph measurements further confirmed the consumption of oxygen and the generation of superoxide during the irradiation of aqueous solutions of AM. Deiodination, photoionization and superoxide formation were all observed at wavelengths as low as 335 nm, suggesting that some or all of these processes may be involved in AM-induced photosensitivity. The aryl radical derived from AM during UV irradiation abstracted a hydrogen atom from suitable donors (ethanol, glutathione, cysteine, linoleic acid). Reaction of the dienyl radical derived from linoleic acid would yield the corresponding peroxy radical thereby initiating lipid peroxidation. This would explain the deposition of lipofuscin, a pigment formed from the products of lipid peroxidation, in the skin of patients receiving AM.