[Pathology of the heart of noncardiac origin. VIII. Cocaine and the heart]

Abstract

The marked increase in cocaine consumption observed in recent decades, has led to the identification of previously unknown multiple medical problems. Cardiovascular complications related to cocaine abuse include myocardial ischemia and infarction, myocarditis, cardiomyopathy, rhythm disturbances and sudden death, endocarditis, pneumopericardium and left ventricular hypertrophy. Although the mechanisms involved in cocaine-related cardiac diseases are multiple, many cardiac complications in these patients are caused in part or totally by an increase in adrenergic activity due to the blockade of catecholamine reuptake induced by the drug.