Synthetic cathinones have emerged as popular drugs of abuse and produce sympathomimetic toxicity. It is unknown if rhabdomyolysis occurs more frequently following the use of synthetic cathinones compared to other stimulants. This retrospective study sought to determine the prevalence of rhabdomyolysis in patients with sympathomimetic toxicity and compare rates among patients using specific agents. Patients greater than 14 years of age with sympathomimetic toxicity and detection of a stimulant agent in urine via gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) were included. Patients were excluded if clinical sympathomimetic toxicity was not present, a serum creatine kinase (CK) was not measured, or urine GC-MS was not performed. Rhabdomyolysis and severe rhabdomyolysis were defined as CK>1000 and 10,000 IU/L, respectively. Prevalence of rhabdomyolysis and severe rhabdomyolysis were reported. Logistic regression was performed to determine the relative effect in single-agent exposures of a synthetic cathinone compared to other sympathomimetics on rhabdomyolysis. A secondary outcome, a composite endpoint defined as need for mechanical ventilation, renal replacement therapy, development of compartment syndrome, or death, was also analyzed. One hundred two subjects met inclusion criteria; median age (IQR) was 32 (25-42)years with a range of 14-65 years; 74 % were male. Rhabdomyolysis occurred in 42 % (43/102) of subjects. Patients whose sympathomimetic toxicity could be ascribed to a single agent were considered for further statistical analysis and placed into four groups: methamphetamine (n=55), synthetic cathinone (n=19), cocaine (n=9), and other sympathomimetic (n=6). In 89 subjects with single stimulant exposure, the prevalence of rhabdomyolysis was as follows: synthetic cathinone, 12/19 (63 %); methamphetamine, 22/55 (40 %); cocaine, 3/9 (33 %); and other single agent, 0/6 (0 %). The occurrence of severe rhabdomyolysis (CK>10,000 IU/L) for each of the four groups was synthetic cathinone with 5/19 (26 %), methamphetamine with 2/55 (3.6 %), cocaine with 1/9 (11 %), and other with 0/6 (0 %). Median maximal CK (range) by groups was as follows: synthetic cathinone, 2638 (62-350,000+)IU/L; methamphetamine, 665 (61-50,233)IU/L; cocaine, 276 (87-25,614)IU/L; and other, 142 (51-816)IU/ L. A statistically significant difference (p=0.004) was found when comparing maximal CK among the four groups. Exposure to a synthetic cathinone compared with other sympathomimetics was associated with increased risk of developing rhabdomyolysis and severe rhabdomyolysis with odds ratios of 3.09 and 7.98, respectively. In this cohort of patients with sympathomimetic toxicity, 42 % developed rhabdomyolysis. Synthetic cathinones were associated with an increased risk of rhabdomyolysis and severe rhabdomyolysis compared with other stimulants.

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Despite decades of experience with acetaminophen (APAP) overdoses, it remains unclear whether elevated hepatic transaminases or coagulopathy develop first. Furthermore, comparison of the predictive value of these two variables in determining hepatic toxicity following APAP overdoses has been poorly elucidated. The primary objective of this study is to determine the test characteristics of the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and the prothrombin time (PT) in patients with APAP toxicity. A retrospective chart review of APAP overdoses treated with IV N-acetylcysteine at a tertiary care referral center was performed. Of the 304 subjects included in the study, 246 with an initial AST less than 1000 were analyzed to determine predictors of hepatic injury, defined as an AST exceeding 1000 IU/L. The initial AST >50 was 79.5 % sensitive and 82.6 % specific for predicting hepatic injury. The corresponding negative and positive predictive values were 95.5 and 46.3 %, respectively. In contrast, an initial abnormal PT had a sensitivity of 82.1 % and a specificity of 63.6 %. The negative and positive predictive values for initial PT were 94.9 and 30.2 %, respectively. Although the two tests performed similarly for predicting a composite endpoint of death or liver transplant, neither was a useful predictor. Initial AST performed better than the initial PT for predicting hepatic injury in this series of patients with APAP overdose.