title: Medical complications of cocaine: possible relationship to low plasma cholinesterase enzyme.
abstract: What predisposes some cocaine users to its complications is not known. Because cocaine is metabolized by plasma cholinesterase enzyme, we evaluated this enzyme in 14 patients with cocaine-induced complications, 11 long-term cocaine users from Bolivia, 14 persons in the United States without any documented cocaine-induced complications, and 14 subjects who have not used cocaine. The enzyme was found to be significantly lower in patients with cocaine-induced complications as compared to other groups (p < 0.05). A low level of plasma cholinesterase enzyme may predict complications from cocaine use.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond 23298.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Om
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Ellahham
authors: J P
authors: JP
authors: Ornato
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Picone
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Theogaraj
authors: G P
authors: GP
authors: Corretjer
authors: G W
authors: GW
authors: Vetrovec
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002802:Cholinesterases / Q000097:blood*; D003042:Cocaine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004452:Echocardiography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D002802:Cholinesterases; D003042:Cocaine