Amphetamine-Associated Reversible Biventricular Cardiomyopathy Complicated by Acute Respiratory Failure: A Case Report.

Authors

Bijay Parajuli, Sajja Sharma, Yogesh Subedi, Milan Guragain, Binita Bhandari

Published in

Cureus. Volume 18. Issue 8. Pages e114490. Epub Aug 13, 2026.

Abstract

Amphetamine overdose can cause severe cardiovascular toxicity, including rarely reversible cardiomyopathy. A 26-year-old man presented approximately 33 hours after intentionally ingesting 25 20-mg extended-release mixed amphetamine salt tablets with lorazepam. He developed chest pain, tachycardia, hypotension, hypoxemia, lactic acidosis, rhabdomyolysis, and markedly elevated cardiac biomarkers. Electrocardiography showed diffuse ST-segment depressions, and chest imaging demonstrated bilateral pulmonary edema and acute lung injury without pulmonary embolism. Echocardiography revealed severe global biventricular systolic dysfunction with a left ventricular ejection fraction below 20%. Progressive hypoxemic respiratory failure required intubation and mechanical ventilation. He improved with supportive intensive care, intravenous diuresis, and heart failure therapy. Although coronary angiography was recommended, he declined and left against medical advice. At two-month follow-up, echocardiography showed complete recovery of biventricular function, with an ejection fraction of 55-60%. This case highlights profound but reversible biventricular cardiomyopathy following massive extended-release amphetamine overdose.

PMID:
42732313
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 13 Sep 2026.

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