[The heart and cocaine].
Cocaine abuse should be considered in everyday cardiological practice for three reasons. The first one is epidemiological as there is an unprecedented increase in cocaine abuse in France and it may result in serious complications, mainly cardiovascular. The second reason concerns modality of consumption: it is usually associated with other toxic substances (including tobacco) and poly-intoxication is a more serious problem and the diagnostic difficulties are greater. Finally, chest pain is the first symptom of myocardial infarction in about 6% of cases. In cardiological practice, young adults with this symptom should be suspected of cocaine abuse and the diagnosis should be eventually confirmed by toxicological analysis.
Guiraudet
O
O
Service de cardiologie, hôpital militaire du Val-de-Grâce, 74, boulevard de Port-Royal, 75230 Paris.
Hemery
Y
Y
Revel
F
F
Ollivier
J P
JP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000209:etiology; D003042:Cocaine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology*; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000139:chemically induced; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000139:chemically induced*
D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D003042:Cocaine