Acute caffeine poisoning resulting in atrial fibrillation after guarana extract overdose.

UNLABELLED: Guarana (Paullinia cupana) is the climbing vine native to Amazon Basin, characterized by high caffeine content in its seeds. Guarana extract is a common ingredient of energy drinks used in order to boost energy and physical endurance and increase alertness. Severe caffeine intoxication is rare, but may be life-threatening mostly due to supraventricular and ventricular dysrhythmias. OBJECTIVES: We present the case of intentional caffeine poisoning after ingestion of tablets containing guarana extract, complicated by atrial fibrillation. CASE REPORT: A44-year-old man with no significant medical history was admitted to hospital about 21 h after ingestion of guarana extract containing 1.6 g of caffeine. Typical symptoms of caffeine toxicity, i.e. nausea, vomiting, anxiety and palpitaions, occurred shortly after ingestion. On admission, he was conscious, with blood pressure of 136/86 mmHg, heart rate of 106-113 beats per minute, fever of 37.8 °C, and symmetrically increased deep tendon reflexes. QTc interval in electrocardiogram was prolonged to 0.542 s. Laboratory tests revealed hypokalemia, hyperglycemia, leukocytosis, as well as elevated creatinine and creatine phosphokinase levels. Approximately 45 h post ingestion, the patient developed atrial fibrillation with fast ventricular rhythm. Tachydysrythmia subsided after infusion of amiodarone and restoration of electrolyte balance. Echocardiogram revealed presence of asymmetrical hypertrophy of the left ventricle with the systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve and normal left ventricular outflow tract gradient suggesting non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. CONCLUSION: Acute caffeine poisoning may result in atrial fibrillation, especially in predisposed patients with underlying hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

[Quantitative analysis of heart scintigraphy (99mTc-MIBI GSPECT) with regional myocardial wall motion and systolic thickening of left ventricle assessment for detecting myocardial damage in ethanol withdrawal patients]. / Zastosowanie analizy ilosciowej badania 99mTc-MIBI GSPECT z ocena odcinkowej ruchomosci scian i grubienia skurczowego miesnia lewej komory w aspekcie oceny stopnia uszkodzenia miesnia sercowego w zespole odstawiennym u chorych uzaleznionych od alkoholu--doniesienie wstepne.

Severe ethanol withdrawal syndrome, with psychosomatic symptoms, is life-threatening condition and if not treated can be fatal (in approximately 15% of cases). The purpose of this investigation was to assess cardiac muscle function using 99mTc-MIBI GSPECT in acute alcohol withdrawal. The group examined consisted of 10 males aged from 33 to 45 (45.7 +/- 8.82) because of alcohol withdrawal syndrome. The control group for quantitative analysis of the heart scintigraphy (GSPECT) consisted of 20 people referred for examination to the Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine, Jagiellonian University, which results of cardiac perfusion scintigraphy were assessed as normal. In acute withdrawal syndrome quantitative analysis of the heart scintigraphy (99mTc-MIBI GSPECT) revealed impaired regional wall motion and wall thickening related mainly to the lower wall segments. The abnormalities in myocardial perfusion (99mTc-MIBI GSPECT) was found in varying degrees of severity in all patients.

Green tobacco sickness in Poland.

Green tobacco sickness (GTS) is an illness associated with exposure to nicotine originating directly from the growing tobacco plant. The exposure takes place in the course of activities during tobacco farming. Nausea, vomiting, headache and dizziness are the symptoms typical of GTS. The GTS cases have been most commonly reported in the USA, Japan, India and Italy. The first case of GTS in Poland has been diagnosed in a young man working on a Virginia bright tobacco plantation. The patient had symptoms typical of GTS. The toxicological analysis of urine demonstrated the presence of cotinine at the level of 869 ng/ml. Intravenous fluids, anticholinergic agents and potassium supplementation were used in the treatment. Interestingly, diplopia at the initial stage of tobacco poisoning and horizontal nystagmus, which resolved on the 2nd day of hospital stay were observed. We believe that cases of GTS occur in Poland; however patients do not seek medical care. Given that the majority of activities during tobacco farming in Poland are performed manually, it seems necessary to launch a public awareness campaign on GTS and decontamination methods.

Diplopia in Green Tobacco Sickness.

This paper examines the first reported case of Green Tobacco Sickness (GTS) in Poland. A 25-year-old man who worked in a tobacco field for 14 hours with no protective measures experienced symptoms of GTS, and additionally, diplopia, after leaving the field. Upon hospital admission, diplopia was no longer observed. Diplopia was most probably caused by disturbances to the cholinergic neuromuscular transmission, secondary to nicotine. These neurological disturbances, the first of their kind observed in the course of GTS, deserve special attention. The case shows a potential adverse health effect related to tobacco harvest, as most Polish tobacco plantations are not mechanized. Polish farmers should be obligated to protect their workers with protective clothing, shoes, gloves and masks. Recommendations for tobacco harvester health are put forth in the paper.

[Withdrawal syndrome complicated with heart left ventricle dysfunction in young woman addicted to alcohol]. / Uposledzenie czynnosci lewej komory serca jako powiklanie zespolu odstawiennego u mlodej kobiety uzaleznionej od alkoholu.

A case of 23-years old woman, addicted to alcohol and affected by depression, with functional heart disturbances is described. The heart left ventricle dysfunction developed after alcohol withdrawal. In ECG leads (V2-V6, I, II, aVL) symmetrical, negative T waves were present. Echocardio graphy revealed decreased left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF=35%) and local abnormal contractility. The cardiomyocytes necrosis markers (CK-MB, troponin I) were negative. After several days the improvement of the heart function was observed (LEVF= 56%, improving of myocardium regional contractility). The rest scintigraphy of the heart (99mTc-MIBI GSPECT) was performed and its results corresponded with echocardiography revelations. The ECG changes improved during three weeks hospitalization, but were not normal on discharge.