Acute Heart Failure after Oral Intake of Liquid Nicotine

Article information

Soonchunhyang Med Sci. 2020;26(1):22-25
Publication date (electronic) : 2020 June 30
doi : https://doi.org/10.15746/sms.20.006
Department of Emergency Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, Seoul, Korea
Correspondence to: Young Shin Cho Department of Emergency Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, 59 Daesagwan-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul 04401, Korea Tel: +82-2-709-9790, Fax: +82-2-709-9790, E-mail: emcys@schmc.ac.kr
Received 2020 February 24; Accepted 2020 March 27.

Trans Abstract

A 32-year-old female patient was admitted to the hospital after drinking 10 mg of liquid nicotine. She complained of dizziness, nausea, and abdominal pain. The blood pressure was low but the heart rate and respiratory rate were within a normal range. Cardiac enzymes were increased. Echocardiography taken in the emergency room showed akinesia in the apex and the anterior wall, hypokinesia in the inferior and the posterior wall, and severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction with an ejection fraction of 20%. Blood pressure was continuously low after hydration so continuous intravenous norepinephrine and dobutamine were administrated. The patient was admitted to the intensive care unit for closed monitoring. Follow-up echocardiography was performed 4 days after admission. The heart was restored and the ejection fraction was recovered to 65%. There are not many studies about the toxicity of electronic cigarette's nicotine and there are even fewer reports on the toxicity that occurs when liquid nicotine is orally taken. This is a report of a patient of an acute heart failure after intake of liquid nicotine used in the electronic cigarette.

INTRODUCTION

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are a handheld electronic device that dispenses nicotine in the form of aerosol [1]. People using e-cigarettes are increasing daily because of stricter laws for cigarette smoking in public areas, lesser smell, lesser toxic substances, and no ashes compared to a traditional cigarette. E-cigarette shops are also increasing which allows the users to easily obtain the sub-stance. Nicotine is an alkaloid that stimulates the central nervous system and autonomic ganglia through multiple molecular and cellular mechanisms [2]. When nicotine binds to its postsynaptic nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in the brain, ligand-gated ion channels open, allowing cation influx and eventual depolarization of the postsynaptic neuron and central nervous system excitation [2]. Although binding of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor predomi-nantly yields sympathetic nervous stimulation, excess or prolonged exposure to nicotine may result in loss of receptor specific-ity or even paradoxical receptor blockade. Subsequent parasympathetic effects, cholinergic toxicity, and depolarizing neuromuscular blockage may result [2]. Pharmacokinetics after oral ingestion of liquid nicotine are not yet well established, although mucosal absorption has been shown to increase at alkaline pH [2]. In particular, there are even fewer reports on the toxicity that occurs when liquid nicotine is orally taken. In this study, we present a case of acute heart failure after ingestion liquid nicotine used in e-cigarettes.

CASE REPORT

A 32-year-old female patient was admitted to the emergency room with dizziness, nausea, abdominal pain, and general weak-ness after taking 10 mg of liquid nicotine used in e-cigarettes, 4 hours prior to the visit. The patient had a past history of depression and anxiety diagnosed 4 months prior and was taking oral medication prescribed by the primary neuropsychiatry. According to her statement, she drank 10 mg of liquid nicotine mixed with 2 glasses of soju and a glass of beer to commit suicide because she felt depressed.

At the time of admission, her conscious level was drowsy but no other abnormal findings were observed in neurological examinations. In the vital signs, blood pressure was 78/57 mm Hg, pulse rate 88 beats per minute, respiratory rate 11 breaths per minute, and body temperature was 36.6° C. On laboratory tests, white blood cell level was 16,700/μ L, hemoglobin was 13.5 g/dL, hemato-crit 41.0%, and platelet count was 388,000/μ L. The cardiac enzymes were increased. Creatine kinase myocardial bound (CK-MB) was 7.91 ng/mL (reference range, 0–5.8 ng/mL), myoglobin was 77.49 ng/mL (reference range, 27–75 ng/mL), and troponin T was 0.266 ng/mL (reference range, 0–0.1 ng/mL). There was no evidence of pulmonary edema on chest radiography. Also, there was no specific finding on the brain computed tomography scan. Electrocardiogram showed QT prolongation (QTc 541) and non-specific ST-T segment change (Fig. 1). Echocardiography taken in the emergency room showed akinesia in the apex and the anterior wall, hypokinesia in the inferior and the posterior wall, and severe left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction with an ejection fraction of 20% (Fig. 2). Gastric lavage was conducted and activated charcoal was administered. Blood pressure was continuously low after 1 L hydration; therefore, we decided to insert a central venous line. Central venous pressure measured 9 mm Hg and inferior vena cava diameter was 2.2 cm without a plethora. Even with the administration of continuous intravenous norepinephrine, the blood pressure decreased to 62/48 mm Hg; therefore, continuous intravenous dobutamine was administrated. The patient was referred to the cardiology department due to acute heart failure caused by nicotine. The patient was admitted to the intensive care unit for closed monitoring.

Fig. 1.

The electrocardiography. Lead I and aVL presented T wave inversion but there were no ST elevations.

Fig. 2.

Initial echocardiography (apical 4 chamber view). (A) End systole. (B) End diastole. It presented akinesia in the apex and anterior wall and hypokinesia in the inferior and decreased left ventricular systolic function.

The patient's consciousness was restored within the first day of admission. On the 4th day of admission, the laboratory test showed a decrease in cardiac enzymes which were 2.74 ng/mL for CK-MB, < 21 ng/mL for myoglobin, and 0.111 ng/mL for troponin T. On the first day of admission, we performed a cotinine test. A few days later we were able to see the results. The amount of cotinine in serum was also increased to 7,069 ng/mL. On follow-up echocardiography, the function of the anterior, inferior, and posterior walls of the heart was restored and only the apex showed hypokinesia (Fig. 3). Also, the ejection fraction was recovered to 65%. The patient was discharged after the recovery of symptoms.

Fig. 3.

Follow-up echocardiography on the 4th day of admission (apical 4 chamber view). (A) End systole. (B) End diastole. The wall motion abnormality of left ventricle was restored and ejection fraction was recovered.

The patient provided written informed consent for publication of the research details and clinical images.

DISCUSSION

We present a case of acute heart failure following intentional nicotine ingestion. Nicotine is an alkaloid that causes many bio-logical effects, the intensity of which depends on the dosage [1]. It shows effects through nicotinic receptors, located mainly in the autonomic nervous system. Depending on the concentration, low doses have a stimulating effect, while high doses block nicotine receptors [1].

The overdose of nicotine has symptoms of the digestive system such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea which appear within a few minutes and systemic reactions such as anxiety, headache, sweating, hallucinations, hypertension, bradycardia, and tachycardia may occur. In severe poisoning, muscle weakening can lead to respiratory muscle paralysis and death [1,3]. Seizures and arrhythmia may occur several hours after intake, so observation for a few hours is necessary. Fatal dose of nicotine for adults is estimated to be 40–60 mg or 0.8–1.0 mg/kg [4]. The peak plasma concentrations are usually reported 1 hour after oral administration. Nicotine metabolism mainly takes place in the liver. The plasma half-life of nicotine is 100–150 minutes, and that of cotinine is 770–1,130 minutes [4].

Nicotine intoxication occurs through oral ingestion, smoking, and transdermal patch. In some cases, there are cases of intravenous poisoning [1,3,5]. The bioavailability of nicotine is significantly lower after oral ingestion than after smoking or application of transdermal nicotine patches, presumably due to the hepatic first-pass effect [4]. However, even if oral ingestion was performed, deaths occurred when taking lethal dose [1,3,4,6,7].

There was another case report of acute myocardial infarction due to liquid nicotine poisoning in a young man [8]. There was ST-segment elevation on electrocardiography and cardiac enzymes were increased. He was transferred to the cardiac catheterization laboratory, which revealed thrombus in the proximal left anterior descending artery [8]. Nicotine has a toxic effect on the endotheli-um, which may change its vascular activity and cause vasospasm, leading to myocardial infarction, as well as cause increased platelet aggregation [9].

In our case, the patient had drowsy mental status and complained of dizziness, nausea, and general weakness, but no chest pain and discomfort. Also, she presented low blood pressure without tachycardia or bradycardia. Although the ingested nicotine dose was not fatal, cardiac enzymes were increased and heart function was impaired. When we performed the echocardiography in the emergency room, there were regional wall motion abnormalities that did not match coronary artery territory. Also, there was no sign of stress-induced cardiomyopathy. There was severe LV systolic dysfunction with decreased ejection fraction. Cigarette smoking and smokeless tobacco use have been associated with an increased risk of heart failure [10]. Heart failure occurs in the context of tissue remodeling. In our case, the remodeling of the tissue did not proceed, but acute heart failure appeared. Because nicotine-induced heart failure can occur, adequate treatment of heart failure should be considered.

To date, there are no known antidotes against nicotine poisoning. Treatment of nicotine overdose generally consists of gastric lavage with the use of activated charcoal and ventilation or oxygen-ation therapy. As seizures or cardiac dysrhythmias may occur, observation of the patient for several hours is always required [4]. If heart failure occurs as in our case, it is helpful to supportive treatment that supports in contractility of the heart.

The market for e-cigarettes is growing annually and it is easily bought in a store nearby. Recently, it appears that suicidal nicotine poisoning is being shared through internet sites. There was a case report of suicidal nicotine poisoning using tobacco extract by internet suicide guidelines [4]. Consequently, emergency physicians should anticipate a continued increase in cases of e-liquid expo-sures and poisonings.

In conclusion, as e-cigarettes are becoming popular and easily available, more patients with liquid nicotine overdose can occur. Therefore, we expected that emergency physicians will continue to encounter clinically significant cases of nicotine toxicity. Nicotine intoxication can cause acute heart failure with severe systolic dysfunction, so close observation and conservative treatment are needed.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This work was supported by Soonchunhyang University Research Fund.

References

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Fig. 1.

The electrocardiography. Lead I and aVL presented T wave inversion but there were no ST elevations.

Fig. 2.

Initial echocardiography (apical 4 chamber view). (A) End systole. (B) End diastole. It presented akinesia in the apex and anterior wall and hypokinesia in the inferior and decreased left ventricular systolic function.

Fig. 3.

Follow-up echocardiography on the 4th day of admission (apical 4 chamber view). (A) End systole. (B) End diastole. The wall motion abnormality of left ventricle was restored and ejection fraction was recovered.