title: High serum tryptase value in massive acute myocardial infarction with ventricular arrhythmia exortion in a cocaine abuser.
abstract: A 38-year-old cocaine abuser was admitted to the Emergency Department with a one hour history of precordial chest pain associated with shortness of breath and extreme discomfort. On admission his blood pressure was 90/60 mmHg, the resting 12-lead ECG showed ventricular tachycardia at about 300 beats per minute, and oxygen saturation was 86 percent in room air. After electrical cardioversion, the 12-lead ECG revealed sinusal rhythm and a significative ST segment elevation in leads I, aVL and V1-V6, that was about 0.5 mV in leads I and aVL and more than 1 mV in leads V2, V3 and V4. Laboratory determinations showed elevated creatine-chinase MB (CK-MB) and troponin I. An emergency coronary angiogram was normal. Cocaine use is a major cause of acute myocardial infarction in patients with normal epicardial coronary arteries but the exact mechanism still remains unclear. We hypothesize a non-IgE mediated mast-cell activation, with a direct action played by cocaine, and consequent massive expression of several factors effecting the microcirculatory system, including pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Our hypothesis is supported by an elevated serum tryptase levels in the patient.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caroselli
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Perfetti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bruno
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D052279:Creatine Kinase, MB Form / Q000097:blood; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000201:enzymology*; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D019210:Troponin I / Q000097:blood; D053802:Tryptases / Q000097:blood*; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019210:Troponin I; D052279:Creatine Kinase, MB Form; D053802:Tryptases