DO ENERGY DRINKS REALLY GIVE YOU WINGS? LEFT VENTRICULAR ASSIST DEVICE THERAPY AS A BRIDGE TO RECOVERY FOR AN ENERGY DRINK INDUCED CARDIOMYOPATHY

The deleterious effect of energy drinks is increasingly recognized. We present a 26-year-old woman with inotrope-dependent severe dilated cardiomyopathy, potentially caused by chronic ingestion of energy drinks. The results of extensive investigation—consisting of cardiac magnetic resonance, F-18-fluorodesoxyglucose-positron emission tomography, coronary angiography, and endomyocardial biopsy—were normal. A left ventricular assist device (LVAD) was implanted as a potential bridge to recovery. After 10 months of mechanical support and pharmacological treatment, cardiac function was recovered, and the LVAD was successfully explanted. This is the first case report of energy drink abuse leading to severe heart failure requiring mechanical support for recovery.