Methamphetamine induces adverse cardiac fibrotic remodeling in human and preclinical animal models. The molecular targets and mechanisms of methamphetamine-induced cardiomyopathy remain elusive. We performed extensive biochemical and functional assays to define the molecular targets and mechanisms of methamphetamine-induced cardiomyopathy.

This talk will describe functional, structural and molecular differences between female and male mice treated with methamphetamine for 5 months. This model demonstrates the cardiac toxicity and dilated cardiomyopathy also seen in human addicts and recapitulates the clinical observation of greater male susceptibility.

Current evidence linking methamphetamine and ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death (SCD) will be summarized. Direct and indirect effects of methamphetamine on molecules that play a key role in the alteration of structural and electrical substrate of the ventricles leading to SCD will be discussed and putative therapeutic targets will be reviewed.