Salim Yasar, Erkan Yildirim, Mustafa Koklu, Erol Gursoy, Murat Celik, Uygar Cagdas Yuksel

Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Department of Cardiology, Ankara, Turkey

Keywords: Toluene; Acute cardiac toxicity; Cardiomyopathy

Abstract

Inhalation of toluene-based products is popular among young adults. It has been shown to have a variety of adverse effects on several organs and systems. Although the heart seems to be a sensitive target organ to toluene, cardiotoxicity has often been ignored, especially in cases of acute toluene abuse, with relatively low concentrations. Thereby, routine cardiac examination and echocardiography for cardiotoxicity should be performed in cases of acute toluene exposure, even though there is no cardiovascular sign or symptoms.