Drug-induced left ventricular failure in patients with pulmonary disease. Endomyocardial biopsy demonstration of catecholamine myocarditis.

Publication/Presentation Date

10-1-1987

Abstract

Three patients with severe chronic lung disease had left ventricular failure develop with marked impairment of cardiac function. Ejection fractions by radioactive blood pool ventriculography were 0.17, 0.24, and 0.20. Right ventricular endomyocardial biopsy specimens showed interstitial hemorrhage and foci of interstitial polymorphonuclear leukocytes, strongly suggestive of catecholamine myocarditis. These patients had used beta-adrenergic agonist inhalants and methylxanthines. One of them clearly abused the inhalant and had elevated levels of urinary catecholamines. Progressive deterioration of pulmonary and cardiac function occurred in two patients, with death within three months of the initial myocardial biopsy. Concomitant use of beta-adrenergic agonists and methylxanthines may cause myocarditis with left ventricular failure in susceptible patients.

Volume

92

Issue

4

First Page

732

Last Page

736

ISSN

0012-3692

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

PubMedID

2888599

Department(s)

Department of Medicine

Document Type

Article

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