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Cocaine and the heart

¹ Cardiothoracic Centre, Liverpool, UK
² University Hospital Aintree, Liverpool, UK

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr M Egred
Cardiothoracic Centre, Thomas Drive, Liverpool L14 3PE, UK; m.egred{at}ctc.nhs.uk

Cocaine is the second commonest illicit drug used and the most frequent cause of drug related deaths. Its use is associated with both acute and chronic complications that may involve any system, the most common being the cardiovascular system. Cocaine misuse has a major effect in young adult drug users with resulting loss of productivity and undue morbidity with cocaine related cardiac and cerebrovascular effects. Many cocaine users have little or no idea of the risks associated with its use. Patients, health care professionals, and the public should be educated about the dangers and the considerable risks of cocaine use. This review concentrates on the cardiovascular effects of cocaine and their management.

Keywords: cocaine misuse; cocaine related complications; myocardial infarction; myocardial ischaemia; drug misuse

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