title: Huffing-induced cardiomyopathy: a case report.
abstract: The intentional inhalation of fumes from gasoline or solvents for recreational purposes is commonly known as Huffing, Sniffing or Dusting (Anderson and Loomis in Am Fam Physician 68(5):869-874, 2003). Inhalant abuse is known to be "Cardio-toxic", causing sudden death and chronic myocardial damage (Meadows and Verghese in South Med J 89(5):455-462, 1996; Anderson and Loomis in Am Fam Physician 68(5):869-874, 2003). We report a 20-year-old white man who presented with altered mental status following ingestion of multiple alprazolam and oxycodone tablets. He was found to have diffused ST-T changes on his EKG. Cardiac enzymes were found to be elevated-CK: 599 U/L, CK-MB: 16.8 ng/mL and Troponin: 0.78 ng/mL. A transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) revealed global left ventricular (LV) dysfunction with an ejection fraction (EF) of 10-15%. During hospitalization, the cardiac enzymes started trending downward and this was followed by spontaneous resolution of the LV dysfunction. The patient also admitted to inhaling "Dust-Off" spray 2-3 days prior to admission. Inhalant abuse can cause cardiomyopathy and should be considered a probable cause in patients presenting with cardiac dysfunction of unknown etiology, particularly in teenagers and young adults.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, UFCOM-Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL, USA. Rohan.Samson@jax.ufl.edu
authors: Rohan
authors: R
authors: Samson
authors: Herman
authors: H
authors: Kado
authors: Douglas
authors: D
authors: Chapman
mesh_terms: D000335:Aerosol Propellants / Q000506:poisoning*; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000335:Aerosol Propellants