title: Side effects of cocaine abuse: multiorgan toxicity and pathological consequences.
abstract: Cocaine is a powerful stimulant of the sympathetic nervous system by inhibiting catecholamine reuptake, stimulating central sympathetic outflow, and increasing the sensitivity of adrenergic nerve endings to norepinephrine (NE). It is known, from numerous studies, that cocaine causes irreversible structural changes on the brain, heart, lung and other organs such as liver and kidney and there are many mechanisms involved in the genesis of these damages. Some effects are determined by the overstimulation of the adrenergic system. Most of the direct toxic effects are mediated by oxidative stress and by mitochondrial dysfunction produced during the metabolism of noradrenaline or during the metabolism of norcocaina, as in cocaine-induced hepathotoxicity. Cocaine is responsible for the coronary arteries vasoconstriction, atherosclerotic phenomena and thrombus formation. In this way, cocaine favors the myocardial infarction. While the arrhythmogenic effect of cocaine is mediated by the action on potassium channel (blocking), calcium channels (enhances the function) and inhibiting the flow of sodium during depolarization. Moreover chronic cocaine use is associated with myocarditis, ventricular hypertrophy, dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure. A variety of respiratory problems temporally associated with crack inhalation have been reported. Cocaine may cause changes in the respiratory tract as a result of its pharmacologic effects exerted either locally or systemically, its method of administration (smoking, sniffing, injecting), or its alteration of central nervous system neuroregulation of pulmonary function. Renal failure resulting from cocaine abuse has been also well documented. A lot of studies demonstrated a high incidence of congenital cardiovascular and brain malformations in offspring born to mothers with a history of cocaine abuse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Pathology, University of Foggia, Ospedale C. D'Avanzo, Viale degli Aviatori 1, 71100, Foggia, Italy. ireneriezzo@tin.it
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Riezzo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fiore
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Carlo
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pascale
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Neri
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Turillazzi
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fineschi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D003042:Cocaine / Q000633:toxicity*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D003042:Cocaine