Nasal toxicity of cocaine: a hypercoagulable effect?
Nasal insufflation of cocaine injures the nasal mucosa and can perforate the septum. Cocaine-induced vasoconstriction resulting in ischemia is one of the methods that may be responsible for this damage. We are determining whether cocaine also produces a hypercoagulable state that may compound factors which have been previously established to cause damage to the nasal mucosa and septum. This study uses Modified Recalcification Time (MRT), a test developed in our laboratory that has the ability to measure the overall coagulation process. Our study revealed no connection between cocaine and enhanced platelet function or monocyte-released tissue factor. The coagulation process was unaffected by the addition of the drug, so we conclude that cocaine does not cause a hypercoagulable state and cannot assist in the explanation regarding the ischemic changes of the nasal septum.
Patel
R
R
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Newark, USA.
Shah
R
R
Baredes
S
S
Spillert
C R
CR
Lazaro
E J
EJ
D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors / Q000187:drug effects; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects; D003042:Cocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007327:Insufflation / Q000009:adverse effects; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D009294:Narcotics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects*; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D019851:Thrombophilia / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced*; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects
D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors; D009294:Narcotics; D003042:Cocaine