A fatal case of pontine hemorrhage related to methamphetamine abuse

Massive intracerebral hemorrhage following methamphetamine poisoning in a man: A case report

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE

Methamphetamine (MAP) is a highly addictive stimulant known to have detrimental effects on the brain and various physiological systems, including an elevation in heart rate and blood pressure. Additionally, MAP use has been linked to the development of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), a serious and potentially fatal condition that is notably prevalent among young individuals.

CASE PRESENTATION

We present the case of a 42-year-old man who suffered a massive ICH due to hypertension resulting from MAP poisoning. The patient presented with symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and blurred vision for around two hours following the accidental inhalation of MAP. However, his condition was significantly improved through the implementation of neurosurgical intervention.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

In recent years, the misuse of MAP among young adults has raised concerns about its association with ICH. ICH is a type of stroke where a blood vessel in the brain ruptures due to high blood pressure, causing bleeding. This medical emergency can lead to various symptoms, such as severe headaches, loss of consciousness, and paralysis. ICH is indeed a serious and life-threatening condition that necessitates prompt medical attention. It can also lead to long-term adverse effects for the individual affected.

CONCLUSIONS

The association with ICH and MAP abuse among young adults is a substantial public health issue. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms underlying MAP abuse-induced elevation of ICH risk, further exploration is necessary.

[Damages to the central nervous system due to illicit drug use]

CLINICAL ISSUE

Illicit drugs can cause a myriad of CNS damages. The toxicity might be caused by the drug itself or by diverse contaminants. The most common changes are ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke as well as subarachnoid hemorrhage and leukoencephalopathies. This article gives a review of the most important morphological imaging findings of the CNS in illicit drug users.

PRACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS

In cases of stroke or unclear leukoencephalopathies in young adults, the differential diagnosis of illicit drug use should be considered.

The Effects of Amphetamine and Methamphetamine on the Release of Norepinephrine, Dopamine and Acetylcholine From the Brainstem Reticular Formation

Amphetamine (AMPH) and methamphetamine (METH) are widely abused psychostimulants, which produce a variety of psychomotor, autonomic and neurotoxic effects. The behavioral and neurotoxic effects of both compounds (from now on defined as AMPHs) stem from a fair molecular and anatomical specificity for catecholamine-containing neurons, which are placed in the brainstem reticular formation (RF). In fact, the structural cross-affinity joined with the presence of shared molecular targets between AMPHs and catecholamine provides the basis for a quite selective recruitment of brainstem catecholamine neurons following AMPHs administration. A great amount of investigations, commentary manuscripts and books reported a pivotal role of mesencephalic dopamine (DA)-containing neurons in producing behavioral and neurotoxic effects of AMPHs. Instead, the present review article focuses on catecholamine reticular neurons of the low brainstem. In fact, these nuclei add on DA mesencephalic cells to mediate the effects of AMPHs. Among these, we also include two pontine cholinergic nuclei. Finally, we discuss the conundrum of a mixed neuronal population, which extends from the pons to the periaqueductal gray (PAG). In this way, a number of reticular nuclei beyond classic DA mesencephalic cells are considered to extend the scenario underlying the neurobiology of AMPHs abuse. The mechanistic approach followed here to describe the action of AMPHs within the RF is rooted on the fine anatomy of this region of the brainstem. This is exemplified by a few medullary catecholamine neurons, which play a pivotal role compared with the bulk of peripheral sympathetic neurons in sustaining most of the cardiovascular effects induced by AMPHs.

Methamphetamine-related brainstem haemorrhage

We report the case of an otherwise healthy 29-year-old woman who presented with a brainstem haemorrhage following intravenous methamphetamine use. Extensive investigation did not reveal an underlying pathology, and the development of symptoms was temporally related to methamphetamine injection. Although intracerebral haemorrhage secondary to methamphetamine use is well documented, this report describes a haemorrhage within the brainstem which is a rare location. While animal studies have demonstrated the potential of methamphetamines to produce brainstem haemorrhages, there has only been one previous report describing a haemorrhage in this location due to amphetamine use in humans. We conclude with a brief discussion of the clinical features and aetiology of methamphetamine-related stroke.

Racial disparities in methamphetamine-associated intracerebral hemorrhage

OBJECTIVE

To assess racial disparities in the prevalence of methamphetamine-associated intracerebral hemorrhage (Meth-ICH) among Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders (NHOPI).

METHODS

Prospectively collected data from an ongoing, multiethnic, single-center cohort study were analyzed. The inclusion criteria for the cohort study required that patients be adult (age 18 years or older) residents of Hawaii with nontraumatic spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Patients of race other than white, Asian, or NHOPI were excluded. Determination of Meth-ICH was made prospectively by positive urine toxicology result and lack of other clinically suspected ICH etiology. Prevalence of Meth-ICH among NHOPI was compared with that of white and Asian patients.

RESULTS

A total of 193 patients (white 16%, Asian 61%, NHOPI 23%) were analyzed. NHOPI were younger than white (54 ± 15 vs 68 ± 15 years, respectively, p = 0.0001) and Asian (vs 65 ± 16 years, p = 0.0001) patients. Overall, 25 (13%) Meth-ICHs (mean age: 49 ± 6 years, range: 33-56 years) were identified. NHOPI had higher prevalence of Meth-ICH compared with white (24% vs 0%, respectively, p = 0.003) and Asian (vs 12%, p = 0.046) patients. The observed age differences between the racial groups persisted even after excluding the Meth-ICH group (p < 0.01 for all comparison).

CONCLUSIONS

NHOPI have higher prevalence of Meth-ICH compared with white and Asian patients. However, the age disparity is not entirely driven by methamphetamine abuse.

Bioenergetics failure and oxidative stress in brain stem mediates cardiovascular collapse associated with fatal methamphetamine intoxication

BACKGROUND

Whereas sudden death, most often associated with cardiovascular collapse, occurs in abusers of the psychostimulant methamphetamine (METH), the underlying mechanism is much less understood. The demonstration that successful resuscitation of an arrested heart depends on maintained functionality of the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM), which is responsible for the maintenance of stable blood pressure, suggests that failure of brain stem cardiovascular regulation, rather than the heart, holds the key to cardiovascular collapse. We tested the hypothesis that cessation of brain stem cardiovascular regulation because of a loss of functionality in RVLM mediated by bioenergetics failure and oxidative stress underlies the cardiovascular collapse elicited by lethal doses of METH.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

Survival rate, cardiovascular responses and biochemical or morphological changes in RVLM induced by intravenous administration of METH in Sprague-Dawley rats were investigated. High doses of METH induced significant mortality within 20 min that paralleled concomitant the collapse of arterial pressure or heart rate and loss of functionality in RVLM. There were concurrent increases in the concentration of METH in serum and ventrolateral medulla, along with tissue anoxia, cessation of microvascular perfusion and necrotic cell death in RVLM. Furthermore, mitochondrial respiratory chain enzyme activity or electron transport capacity and ATP production in RVLM were reduced, and mitochondria-derived superoxide anion level was augmented. All those detrimental physiological and biochemical events were reversed on microinjection into RVLM of a mobile electron carrier in the mitochondrial respiratory chain, coenzyme Q10; a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant and superoxide anion scavenger, Mito-TEMPO; or an oxidative stress-induced necrotic cell death inhibitor, IM-54.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that sustained anoxia and cessation of local blood flow that leads to bioenergetics failure and oxidative stress because of mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to acute necrotic cell death in RVLM underpins cardiovascular collapse elicited by lethal doses of METH.

The clinical toxicology of metamfetamine

INTRODUCTION

Metamfetamine is a highly addictive amfetamine analog that acts primarily as a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant. The escalating abuse of this drug in recent years has lead to an increasing burden upon health care providers. An understanding of the drug's toxic effects and their medical treatment is therefore essential for the successful management of patients suffering this form of intoxication.

AIM

The aim of this review is to summarize all main aspects of metamfetamine poisoning including epidemiology, mechanisms of toxicity, toxicokinetics, clinical features, diagnosis, and management.

METHODS

A summary of the literature on metamfetamine was compiled by systematically searching OVID MEDLINE and ISI Web of Science. Further information was obtained from book chapters, relevant news reports, and web material. Epidemiology. Following its use in the Second World War, metamfetamine gained popularity as an illicit drug in Japan and later the United States. Its manufacture and use has now spread to include East and South-East Asia, North America, Mexico, and Australasia, and its world-wide usage, when combined with amfetamine, exceeds that of all other drugs of abuse except cannabis. Mechanisms of toxicity. Metamfetamine acts principally by stimulating the enhanced release of catecholamines from sympathetic nerve terminals, particularly of dopamine in the mesolimbic, mesocortical, and nigrostriatal pathways. The consequent elevation of intra-synaptic monoamines results in an increased activation of central and peripheral α±- and β-adrenergic postsynaptic receptors. This can cause detrimental neuropsychological, cardiovascular, and other systemic effects, and, following long-term abuse, neuronal apoptosis and nerve terminal degeneration. Toxicokinetics. Metamfetamine is rapidly absorbed and well distributed throughout the body, with extensive distribution across high lipid content tissues such as the blood-brain barrier. In humans the major metabolic pathways are aromatic hydroxylation producing 4-hydroxymetamfetamine and N-demethylation to form amfetamine. Metamfetamine is excreted predominantly in the urine and to a lesser extent by sweating and fecal excretion, with reported terminal half-lives ranging from ∼5 to 30 h. Clinical features. The clinical effects of metamfetamine poisoning can vary widely, depending on dose, route, duration, and frequency of use. They are predominantly characteristic of an acute sympathomimetic toxidrome. Common features reported include tachycardia, hypertension, chest pain, various cardiac dysrhythmias, vasculitis, headache, cerebral hemorrhage, hyperthermia, tachypnea, and violent and aggressive behaviour. Management. Emergency stabilization of vital functions and supportive care is essential. Benzodiazepines alone may adequately relieve agitation, hypertension, tachycardia, psychosis, and seizure, though other specific therapies can also be required for sympathomimetic effects and their associated complications.

CONCLUSION

Metamfetamine may cause severe sympathomimetic effects in the intoxicated patient. However, with appropriate, symptom-directed supportive care, patients can be expected to make a full recovery.

Features of Neurotoxicity on Brain CT of Acutely Intoxicated Unconscious Patients

Diagnostic imaging is a valuable device in clinical management of poisoned patients presenting to emergency units in a comatose state. Some toxic agents have adverse effects on the central nervous system (CNS). Non-contrast computed tomography (CT) of the brain, as an available diagnostic method with a high resolution, can provide useful information about structural disturbances of unconscious patients with suspected drug or chemical intoxication. The authors would describe various presentations of toxic substances detected on the brain CT scans of ten patients with acute intoxication. While non-specific, CT findings of low-attenuation lesions in the basal ganglia, infarctions in young patients, or diffuse edema should raise suspicion for poisoning or overdose.