Huffing and twist: Fatal Torsade de pointes associated with Tetrafluoroethane Inhalation and amphetamine use

Joseph Burke; Mark C P Haigney; Morteza Farasat; Philip S Mehler; Mori J Krantz

doi:10.1002/ccr3.3838

Huffing and twist: Fatal Torsade de pointes associated with Tetrafluoroethane Inhalation and amphetamine use

Clin Case Rep. 2021 May 4;9(8):10.1002/ccr3.3838. doi: 10.1002/ccr3.3838. eCollection 2021 Aug.

Authors

Joseph Burke^{1

2}, Mark C P Haigney³, Morteza Farasat^{1

2}, Philip S Mehler², Mori J Krantz^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medicine Division of Cardiology Denver Health and Hospital Authority Denver CO USA.
² Department of Medicine University of Colorado School of Medicine Aurora CO USA.
³ Uniformed Services University Bethesda MD USA.

Abstract

Many volatile chemicals inhaled for a recreational high have a chemical structure similar to chloroform and may lead to Ikr blockade and subsequent torsades de pointes. This is one potential mechanism of action for huffing-associated sudden death.

Keywords: Ikr; hERG; huffing; sudden cardiac death; torsade de pointes.

Publication types

Case Reports