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Review
. 2019 Sep;39(9):1739-1746.
doi: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.119.312461. Epub 2019 Aug 21.

Methamphetamine Use and Cardiovascular Disease

Christopher G Kevil  1   2   3 , Nicholas E Goeders  4 , Matthew D Woolard  5 , Md Shenuarin Bhuiyan  1   2 , Paari Dominic  6 , Gopi K Kolluru  1 , Connie L Arnold  6 , James G Traylor  1 , A Wayne Orr  1   2   3
Affiliations
Review

Methamphetamine Use and Cardiovascular Disease

Christopher G Kevil et al. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2019 Sep.

Abstract

While the opioid epidemic has garnered significant attention, the use of methamphetamines is growing worldwide independent of wealth or region. Following overdose and accidents, the leading cause of death in methamphetamine users is cardiovascular disease, because of significant effects of methamphetamine on vasoconstriction, pulmonary hypertension, atherosclerotic plaque formation, cardiac arrhythmias, and cardiomyopathy. In this review, we examine the current literature on methamphetamine-induced changes in cardiovascular health, discuss the potential mechanisms regulating these varied effects, and highlight our deficiencies in understanding how to treat methamphetamine-associated cardiovascular dysfunction.

Keywords: atherosclerosis; cardiac arrhythmias; cardiomyopathy; methamphetamine; pulmonary hypertension; substance-related disorders; vasoconstriction.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Methamphetamine effects and receptors.
A. Chemical structures of the catecholamines dopamine and norepinephrine, amphetamine, and methamphetamine. B. Effects of methamphetamine on catecholamine signaling. DAT, dopamine transporter; NET, norepinephrine transporter; VMAT2, vesicular monoamine transporter 2. C. Catecholamine-independent effects of methamphetamine. TAAR1, trace amino acid receptor 1; δ1r, sigma1 receptor; α2 AR, α2 adrenergic receptor.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.. Cardiovascular effects of methamphetamine use.
A. Methamphetamine use is associated with acute vascular constriction and vasospasm, whereas chronic methamphetamine use drives endothelial damage and pulmonary hypertension in some patients. B. Enhanced atherosclerotic plaque formation following methamphetamine use correlates with enhanced inflammation due to endothelial activation and increased T cell and macrophage-driven proinflammatory signaling. C. Methamphetamine use drives cardiac structural (fibrosis, inflammation) and electrical remodeling, associated with QT prolongation and susceptibility to arrhythmias. D. Exposure to methamphetamine promotes mitochondrial dysfunction and dilated cardiomyopathy. These cardiotoxic properties appear to involve both catecholaminergic toxicity and direct toxicity.
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