Ecstasy induced acute systolic heart failure and Non-Ischemic Cardiomyopathy in a young female: a rare case report and literature review
Paritosh Kafle, Binav Shrestha, Amrendra Mandal, Dikshya Sharma, Manjul Bhandari, Birendra Amgai, Mazin Khalid, Jasdeep S Sidhu, Isaac Solaimanzadeh, Vijay Gayam, Rahul Surana, Alix Dufresne
Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives September 6, 2019 DOI: 10.1080/20009666.2019.1650593 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | 28-year-old female patient |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Keywords | Non-st elevation mi Heart failure Non-ischemic cardiomyopathy Systolic dysfunction |
| Key findings | MDMA can induce acute systolic heart failure with regional wall motion abnormalities in a young patient with no prior cardiac history. |
Abstract
Ecstasy or 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is an illicit recreational drug. Effects include euphoria, increased sensory awareness, and central stimulation. Although various arrhythmias, as well as dilated cardiomyopathy, have been previously noted to occur with chronic use, cardiac toxicities are seldom reported in an acute setting. Herein, we present a 28-year-old female patient with no prior medical condition that presented to the Emergency Department with chest pain following intake of MDMA. Electrocardiographic findings, as well as laboratories, were suggestive of possible Acute Non-ST elevation myocardial infarction. Upon admission, cardiac catheterization revealed patent coronary arteries. Stark regional wall motion abnormalities were observed along with reduced ejection fraction. Acute systolic heart failure was treated with standard medical management. Subsequent reassessment of ventricular function with Echocardiography revealed marked improvement. This article describes a case of MDMA induced heart failure, including details of evaluation, management, and monitoring of patient progress. It brings further attention to potential acute harmful effects of MDMA on cardiac function and viability.
Comparable studies
Other case reports and case series on MDMA, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| 'Eve' and 'Ecstasy'. A report of five deaths associated with the use of MDEA and MDMA Individuals whose deaths were associated with MDMA or MDEA use | 1987 | Case series | n = 5 |
| Pathology of deaths associated with "ecstasy" and "eve" misuse. Young white men aged 20 to 25 who died after using ring-substituted amphetamines (MDMA... | 1996 | Case series | n = 7 |
| 'Eve' and 'Ecstasy' Individuals who died after using MDMA or MDEA | 1987 | Case series | n = 5 |
| A Method of Conducting Therapeutic Sessions with MDMA Clients with clear therapeutic purpose, excluding those with serious functional... | 1998 | Case study | n = 2 |
| Diversity of Psychopathology Associated with use of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (‘Ecstasy’) Psychiatric patients presenting between 1990 and 1992 whose symptoms developed in the... | 1994 | Case series | n = 13 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 5
- Ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine): cardiovascular effects and mechanisms. European Journal of Pharmacology May 7, 2021
- Ecstasy as a Potential Cause for Diffuse ST Elevation in a 27-Year-Old Healthy Male: A Case Report. Cureus June 1, 2025
- Protective effects of vitamin E and quercetin against MDMA-induced cardiac and hematological dysfunction in male wistar rats. Pflügers Archiv: European Journal of Physiology April 23, 2026
- Rare but relevant: MDMA and hyponatraemia Addiction December 8, 2025
- Complexities of psychedelics for therapeutic use in obesity and eating disorders Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience October 25, 2022