There are reports of cardiac complications of amphetamine use. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the cardiac complications of amphetamine use in patients hospitalized in the toxicology ward of Imam-Reza hospital in Mashhad in 2022.
All patients hospitalized due to amphetamine toxicity in Imam-Reza toxicology ward during April 2022 to March 2023 were included in this study. A checklist was completed for all eligible patients to collect information on age, gender, and history of underlying diseases. The required tests were performed according to the relevant indications.
In this study, 33 patients with a mean age of 32.18±6.76 years were studied. The majority (93.9%) of them were male. All patients had sinus rhythm. QRS and T wave abnormalities were reported in 6.1%. Also, 27.3% had prolonged QT interval, and the same number of patients had prolonged PR interval. The mean ± standard deviation of PR and QT intervals in the studied patients was 0.15 ± 0.04 and 0.41 ± 0.04 seconds, respectively. Also, 9.1% had decreased LVEF (left ventricular ejection fraction), and 6.1% had RV (right ventricular) dilation and dysfunction. Increased SPAP (systolic pulmonary artery pressure) was reported in 6.1%. GLS (global longitudinal strain) dysfunction in LV and RV was present in 90.9 and 84.8% of patients, respectively.
This study showed that amphetamine toxicity could lead to cardiac complications such as sinus tachycardia, first-degree AVB (atrioventricular node block), prolonged QT interval, decreased LVEF, RV dysfunction, etc., which need to be considered in the management of these patients.