The cardiovascular effects of cocaine.
Cocaine use continues to be prevalent among all races and socioeconomic groups in the United States. Patients presenting to emergency departments after cocaine ingestion frequently present with a chief complaint of chest pain. Although acute myocardial infarction is perhaps the most concerning diagnosis in this setting, there are many other potential causes of chest pain after cocaine ingestion. This article reviews the pharmacology of cocaine, as well as the etiologies and treatment of cocaine-associated chest pain, with an emphasis on this drug's range of cardiovascular effects.
Pozner
Charles N
CN
Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard University, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Levine
Michael
M
Zane
Richard
R
D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000139:chemically induced; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003042:Cocaine; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D000075202:Contraindications; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy
D003042:Cocaine