Severe dilated cardiomyopathy as a consequence of Ecstasy intake

Cardiovasc Pathol. 2008 Jul-Aug;17(4):250-3. doi: 10.1016/j.carpath.2007.07.006. Epub 2007 Oct 24.

Abstract

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is one of the most common causes of heart failure with a prevalence of 1:2500. There are several primary and secondary etiologic factors, including gene mutations, infection agents, particularly viruses, toxins, autoimmune, and systemic disorders, and pheochromocytoma, neuromuscular, metabolic, mitochondrial, and nutritional disorders. However, a precise diagnosis can be reached only in no more than 50% of all cases. Herein, we report a rare case of hepatic damage and severe DCM as a consequence of relatively popular socially used narcotic-Ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine [MDMA]).

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / chemically induced*
  • Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / pathology
  • HLA Antigens / metabolism
  • Hallucinogens / adverse effects*
  • Heart / drug effects
  • Heart / physiopathology
  • Heart Failure / chemically induced
  • Humans
  • Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / diagnostic imaging
  • Liver / diagnostic imaging
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Male
  • Myocardium / metabolism
  • Myocardium / pathology
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / drug effects
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / metabolism
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / pathology
  • N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / adverse effects*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / diagnostic imaging
  • Substance-Related Disorders / physiopathology
  • Substance-Related Disorders / surgery
  • Ultrasonography

Substances

  • HLA Antigens
  • Hallucinogens
  • N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine