Emergency Medicine

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Title: acute cocaine use and MI

Category: Cardiology

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

Posted: 9/5/2010 by 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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