title: Combined pathological effects of cocaine abuse and HIV infection on the cardiovascular system: an autopsy study of 187 cases from the Fulton County Medical Examiner's office.
abstract: This autopsy study evaluates the possible cumulative effects of cocaine use in HIV-infected adult individuals on cardiovascular tissue. A total of 187 autopsy case reports and available H&E sections of myocardium and coronary arteries were reviewed. Four major study groups were defined: (A) a total of 63 cases positive for cocaine and negative for HIV (COC); (B) 40 cases positive for HIV/AIDS and negative for cocaine (HIV), (C) 23 cases both HIV/AIDS and cocaine (HIV/COC), and (D) a control group of 61 age-, sex- and race-matched, negative for cocaine and for HIV (CONT). The following morphologic and demographic data were analyzed: heart weight, left ventricular hypertrophy, myocardial fibrosis, thickening of the intramyocardial vessels, myocarditis, acute or remote myocardial infarcts (MI), age, sex, and race. Increased frequency of coronary wall and adventitial infiltrates, myocarditis, and thickened intramyocardial vessels present in HIV/COC group (14.5%, 17.4%, and 17.4% vs. 6.5%, 3.3%, and 0% in CONT group) may indicate possible combined and/or cumulative effects of HIV and cocaine on cardiovascular pathology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, USA.
authors.forename: Mario I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Mosunjac
authors.forename: J Bruce
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Sundstrom
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heninger
authors.forename: Aftab A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Ansari
authors.forename: Marina B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Mosunjac
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000473:pathology*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000473:pathology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology; D003334:Coroners and Medical Examiners; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D005845:Georgia; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000473:pathology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000473:pathology; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000473:pathology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D009929:Organ Size; D012189:Retrospective Studies