Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Protocol for Long Duration Whole Body Hyperthermia in Mice
07:56

Protocol for Long Duration Whole Body Hyperthermia in Mice

Published on: August 25, 2012

MDMA toxicity presenting with severe hyperpyrexia: a case report

E Connolly1, G O'Callaghan

  • 1Department of Critical Care Medicine, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, South Australia.

Critical Care and Resuscitation : Journal of the Australasian Academy of Critical Care Medicine
|April 8, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Severe hyperpyrexia from MDMA (ecstasy) can be fatal. This case demonstrates that rapid, aggressive cooling is crucial for survival in MDMA toxicity patients.

Area of Science:

  • Toxicology
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Cardiology

Background:

  • MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine), commonly known as 'ecstasy', can cause severe hyperpyrexia and multi-organ failure in a subset of users.
  • This hyperpyrexia is a life-threatening condition requiring immediate and aggressive management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report a case of MDMA toxicity with severe hyperpyrexia.
  • To highlight the importance of rapid temperature reduction in managing such cases.

Main Methods:

  • The patient presented with a core body temperature of 43 degrees C.
  • Management involved active surface cooling, administration of cooled intravenous and lavage solutions, and continuous veno-venous diafiltration.
  • Temperature was reduced to 36 degrees C within 60 minutes.

Main Results:

  • The patient survived the severe hyperpyrexia and MDMA toxicity.
  • Rapid and aggressive cooling measures were effective in normalizing body temperature.

Conclusions:

  • Aggressive and rapid temperature control is critical for patient survival in cases of severe MDMA toxicity.
  • A multi-modal approach including cooling, lavage, and diafiltration can effectively manage life-threatening hyperpyrexia from MDMA ingestion.

More Related Videos

Magnetic Resonance-Guided High Intensity Focused Ultrasound Generated Hyperthermia: A Feasible Treatment Method in a Murine Rhabdomyosarcoma Model13:41

Magnetic Resonance-Guided High Intensity Focused Ultrasound Generated Hyperthermia: A Feasible Treatment Method in a Murine Rhabdomyosarcoma Model

Published on: January 13, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Increased Body Temperature01:25

Increased Body Temperature

A body temperature above  38°C  (100.4 °F) is known as fever or pyrexia, and a person with fever is termed 'febrile.' Typically, the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that acts as the body's thermostat, regulates body temperature through a thermoregulatory setpoint. It receives signals from cold and warm thermal receptors throughout the body and adjusts the body's temperature accordingly. Fever occurs when this hypothalamic setpoint is altered, usually in response to an infection or illness.
Homeostatic Imbalances in Body Temperature01:19

Homeostatic Imbalances in Body Temperature

Hyperthermia occurs when the body's temperature becomes unusually high, often due to heat exposure, intense physical activity, or certain illnesses. This condition can create a dangerous cycle where elevated body temperature increases the metabolic rate, generating more heat and potentially leading to organ failure and brain damage. A severe form of hyperthermia, called heat stroke, can raise body temperature to life-threatening levels. Fever, on the other hand, is a controlled form of...
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever01:26

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is a severe tick-borne illness caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, a Gram-negative, coccobacillary bacterium. This pathogen is an obligate intracellular parasite, requiring a host cell for replication. Transmission occurs through the bite of an infected tick. In the United States, the most important vectors are Dermacentor variabilis (American dog tick) and Dermacentor andersoni (Rocky Mountain wood tick), though other tick species may also serve as vectors.
Toxidromes: Clinical Features01:30

Toxidromes: Clinical Features

Toxidromes are specific patterns of symptoms resulting from toxic substance exposure. They help in the identification and treatment of poisoning. The symptoms of each toxidrome group indicate poisoning by a certain class of chemicals or drugs.1. Sympathomimetic: Stimulates the sympathetic nervous system. Symptoms include agitation, increased heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), respiratory rate (RR), temperature, and pupil size. Drugs like cocaine and amphetamines, along with tremors and...
Hyperthyroidism II: Pathophysiology01:27

Hyperthyroidism II: Pathophysiology

Hyperthyroidism is a hypermetabolic state caused by elevated levels of thyroid hormones, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). It results from dysregulation at the thyroid, pituitary, or immune system level and affects multiple organ systems.PathophysiologyThe most common cause of hyperthyroidism is Graves’ disease, an autoimmune disorder in which antibodies, specifically thyroid-stimulating antibodies (TSAb), a subtype of TSH receptor antibodies (TRAb), bind to and activate TSH receptors...
Types of Fever01:25

Types of Fever

Fever can be triggered by several factors, including infections, nervous system disorders, certain cancers, blood diseases like leukemia, embolism, thrombosis, heatstroke, dehydration, surgical trauma, crushing injuries, and allergic reactions.
Here are the different types of fever: