title: Thoracic aortic dissection associated with cocaine abuse.
abstract: Cardiovascular complications of cocaine abuse include myocardial ischemia and infarction, dysrhythmias, cardiomyopathies and aortic dissection. The case in point pertains to a 26-year-old, Caucasian male, substance abuser who suffered a thoracic aortic dissection following the use of crack cocaine. The autopsy and histological findings showed a connective tissue abnormality including a focal microcystic medial necrosis and a fragmentation of the elastic fibers in the arterial walls. Blood concentrations of cocaine and benzoylecgonine, taken individually, were considered to be within a potentially toxic range. Blood concentrations of methadone also indicated use of this drug at the same time. The small amounts of morphine found in the blood and urine were compatible with heroine or morphine use more than 24 h before death.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Médecine Légale, Centre Médical Universitaire, Université de Genève, 9 Avenue de Champel, 1211 Genève 4, Switzerland. cristianpalmiere@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Cristian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Palmiere
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Burkhardt
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Staub
authors.forename: Myriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hallenbarter
authors.forename: Gian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paolo Pizzolato
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dettmeyer
authors.forename: Romano
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: La Harpe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000209:etiology*; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000209:etiology*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D016578:Crack Cocaine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D016578:Crack Cocaine