title: Myocardial infarction temporally related to ephedra--a possible role for the coronary microcirculation.
abstract: Myocardial infarction has been reported with ephedrine and pseudoephedrine use. It has been suggested that these agents may induce coronary artery spasm, hypercoagulable states, or oxygen demand imbalance. We report a 25-year-old male with myocardial infarction after receiving a diet pill containing ephedra. Coronary angiography revealed normal coronary arteries with very slow flow, suggestive of microcirculation abnormalities. The flow responded promptly to intracoronary verapamil.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Marshfield Clinic, 1000 N Oak Ave, Marshfield, WI 54449, USA. rezkalls@mfldclin.edu
authors.forename: Shereif H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Rezkalla
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mesa
authors.forename: Param
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Kloner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003331:Coronary Vessels; D004562:Electrocardiography; D029789:Ephedra / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis