Wolff Parkinson White and recreational (meth)amphetamine use: a potentially lethal combination

ABSTRACT

Cardiac arrest in Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) is a rare event, and although some patients appear to be at greater risk, there is no consensus on clear risk factors. We present a case of a 23-year-old male patient, with a known history of WPW pattern, who suffered an out of hospital ventricular fibrillation after the consumption of rather small dose of (meth)amphetamines. The use of illegal drug can predispose WPW patients to fatal arrhythmia and cardiac arrest. Patients with WPW pattern should be well informed about the risks of (meth)amphetamines and some might be considered for medical therapy or catheter ablation.

KEYWORDS:

• Ventricular fibrillation
• recreational drugs
• 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine
• amphetamine
• Wolff-Parkinson-White

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.