Cocaine: pathophysiology and clinical toxicology.
OBJECTIVE
To review the medical complications of cocaine abuse and the mechanisms of action of cocaine that contribute to medical complications.


METHODS
Pertinent articles identified through a MEDLINE search of the English-language literature from 1985 to 1996 and through a manual search of bibliographies of all identified articles.


METHODS
All articles describing complications of cocaine use including case reports, small reported series, and review articles.


RESULTS
A qualitative description of reported complications.


RESULTS
Since the introduction of freebase and crack cocaine, multiple medical complications have been observed, and all major body organ systems have been affected. Cocaine can cause acute strokes, myocardial infarction, cardiac dysrhythmias, pulmonary edema, rhabdomyolysis, and acute renal failure.


CONCLUSIONS
Adverse reactions to cocaine should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute ischemic events that occur in young adults. General awareness of the significant complications of cocaine will facilitate early diagnosis and prompt treatment.
Boghdadi
M S
MS
Division of Cardiology, University of South Florida, Tampa, USA.
Henning
R J
RJ
D000328:Adult; D003042:Cocaine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000191:economics / Q000503:physiopathology
D003042:Cocaine