UMEM Educational Pearls

Category: Cardiology

Title: acute cocaine use and MI

Keywords: cocaine, myocardial infarction, atherosclerosis (PubMed Search)

Posted: 9/5/2010 by Amal Mattu, MD
Click here to contact Amal Mattu, MD

Acute use of cocaine increases risk of acute MI due to tachydysrhythmias, vasospasm, and increased platelet aggregation. There is a 24-fold increased risk of MI in the first hour after use of cocaine. 6% of patients presenting with cocaine-chest pain rule in for acute MI.

[Weber, Acad Emerg Med 2000]

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