8 research outputs found
Abiotrophia endocarditis: a case report and review of literature.
No full textNutritionally Variant Streptococci (NVS) were first grouped under viridans streptococci, although they differed from the latter by variant growth characteristics. NVS cause approximately 5% of cases of bacterial endocarditis. Infective endocarditis caused by NVS has a higher rate of complications than endocarditis caused by other viridans streptococci. Recently NVS were separated from other viridans streptococci to form a new genus Abiotrophia. Since then, only four case reports have described the clinical course of Abiotrophia endocarditis. Therefore, current knowledge on this disease derives from previous data on NVS endocarditis. We present the case of Abiotrophia endocarditis, followed by discussion of relevant literature
Acute coronary syndrome and crystal methamphetamine use: a case series.
No full text"Ice" is a form of methamphetamine commonly used as a recreational drug in Hawaii and the Philippines, but seldom encountered in the continental United States. It differs in appearance from methamphetamine tablets, but otherwise has exactly the same molecules, only arranged in a crystalline structure. A sizeable body of in vitro, animal, and autopsy data suggest a linkage between methamphetamine use and myocardial pathology. In this report, we describe a series of eight patients who developed unstable angina or acute myocardial infarction in association with smoking crystal methamphetamine. The findings, to a large extent, resemble those with cocaine-associated acute coronary syndromes. Given the widespread abuse of methamphetamine among young age groups, the recognition and primary prevention of cardiovascular toxic effects is of mounting socioeconomic importance
A Comparison of Echocardiographic Findings in Young Adults With Cardiomyopathy: With and Without a History of Methamphetamine Abuse
No full textBackground
Methamphetamine is currently the most widespread illegal stimulant abused in the United States. No previous reports comparing echocardiographic findings of cardiomyopathy with and without a history of methamphetamine abuse are available. Methods
We performed a single institution retrospective review of medical records and analyses of echocardiographic findings in patients ≤45 years of age hospitalized between 2001 and 2004 who were discharged with a diagnosis of cardiomyopathy or heart failure. After exclusion of patients with coronary artery disease or severe cardiac valvular disease, the remaining patients were divided into 2 groups based on their abuse or non abuse of methamphetamine, as determined by the documented history in the medical records or urine toxicology testing. Results
Among a total of 59 patients, 28 (47%) had a history of methamphetamine abuse or positive urine toxicology. Both methamphetamine abusers and non-abusers were predominately male (64.3% vs 64.5%, P = .99), and had a high prevalence of obesity (55.6% vs 73.3%, P = .16). Bivariate analysis revealed significant differences between the methamphetamine abusers and non-abusers in left atrium volume (119.7 ± 55.4 ml vs 85.8 ± 33.5 ml, P = .008), left ventricular end-diastolic volume (201.9 ± 71.4 ml vs 156.6 ± 63.1 ml, P = .01), left ventricular end-systolic volume (136.0 ± 53.7 ml vs 92.3 ± 55.8 ml, P = .004), right ventricular dimension (26.3 ± 6.0 mm vs 21.3 ± 6.0 mm, P = .007), and quantified left ventricular ejection fraction (32.9% ± 11.3% vs 44.6% ± 17.8%, P = .004). Conclusions
We found a high prevalence of methamphetamine abuse in our study population. Methamphetamine abusers had echocardiographic findings of more severe dilated cardiomyopathy compared with non-abusers
