Sudden Cardiac Death after Amphetamine Abuse ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction after Abuse of Crystal Meth?

摘要

There is a significant increase in illegal drugabuse, therefore in drug related emergencies. We report about a 52-year-old male who suffered of out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) due to methamphetamineabuse. Initially the patient was successfully resuscitated by EMS, followed by urgent cardiac catheter, based on a pathognomonic ECG - acute STEMI. Surprisingly there were no signs of acute myocardial ischemia in the angiographic imaging. The patient died within the following hours from incressant malignant arrhythmias, refractory to any intervention. There is only superficial knowledge about the sympathomimetic sideeffects of drugs. Therapeutic strategies are based on recommendations with only poor evidence. Until more data is available, the therapeutic options remain widely empiric.