Cardiovascular complications of cocaine abuse.

Cardiovascular complications of cocaine abuse.

Bunn W H; Giannini A J

American Family Physician

1992

1992-09

Cocaine abuse may lead to serious cardiac complications, including myocardial ischemia and infarction, myocarditis, cardiomyopathy and arrhythmias. With concomitant use of alcohol and cocaine, cocaethylene is produced by hepatic transformation. Cocaethylene is now thought to be primarily responsible for the deaths that occur among cocaine abusers. Treatment of cardiovascular complications focuses on cocaine-induced ischemia, hypertension and arrhythmias. The use of thrombolytic agents in myocardial infarction remains controversial. Concurrent detoxification with bromocriptine and norepinephrine is recommended.

*Cocaine/adverse effects/analogs & derivatives/metabolism; Adult; Cardiomyopathies/etiology; Coronary Disease/etiology; Ethanol/metabolism; Heart Diseases/*etiology; Humans; Myocardial Infarction/etiology; Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors/adverse effects; Substance-Related Disorders/*complications

Article information provided for research and reference use only. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).

769–773

3

46