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Cardiomyopathy from 1,1-Difluoroethane Inhalation

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Abstract

Consumer aerosol products can be inhaled for their psychoactive effects, but with attendant adverse health effects including “sudden sniffing death.” Cardiomyopathy has rarely been described in association with 1,1-difluoroethane (DFE), a common aerosol propellant. We report a 33-year-old male who developed acute myocardial injury and global hypokinesis along with rhabdomyolysis, acute kidney injury, and fulminant hepatitis after 2 days’ nearly continuous huffing. Workup for other causes, including underlying coronary artery disease, was negative. His cardiac function improved over time. The exact mechanism of DFE’s effects is uncertain but may include catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy, coronary vasospasm, or direct cellular toxicity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA

    Suwen Kumar, Tejaswini Joginpally, David Kim & Heather S. Laird-Fick

  2. Knight Cardiovascular Institute, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA

    Mrinal Yadava

  3. Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, Delhi, 110002, India

    Konchok Norgais

Authors
  1. Suwen Kumar
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  2. Tejaswini Joginpally
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  3. David Kim
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  4. Mrinal Yadava
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  5. Konchok Norgais
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  6. Heather S. Laird-Fick
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Correspondence to Suwen Kumar.

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Kumar, S., Joginpally, T., Kim, D. et al. Cardiomyopathy from 1,1-Difluoroethane Inhalation. Cardiovasc Toxicol 16, 370–373 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12012-015-9348-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12012-015-9348-5

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