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Cocaine abuse: repolarization abnormalities and ventricular arrhythmias
G A Gamouras1, G Monir, K Plunkitt
1Department of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, USA.
The American Journal of the Medical Sciences
|July 26, 2000
Summary
Cocaine use can cause dangerous heart rhythm changes, including prolonged QT intervals and increased QT dispersion. Anginal chest pain in cocaine users may signal a higher risk of lethal ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Clinical Electrophysiology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Long QT syndromes are associated with increased risk of arrhythmic death.
- Cocaine abuse is a known risk factor for cardiovascular events.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of cocaine on cardiac repolarization.
- To assess the relationship between anginal chest pain and repolarization abnormalities in cocaine users.
Main Methods:
- Studied 45 patients admitted for cocaine abuse, divided into groups with and without anginal chest pain.
- Measured QT interval, corrected QT (QTc), and QT dispersion.
- Monitored for abnormal U waves and lethal ventricular arrhythmias.
Main Results:
- Cocaine use prolonged QT, QTc, and QTc dispersion.
- Abnormal U waves were more frequent in cocaine users.
- Three patients experienced lethal ventricular arrhythmias.
Conclusions:
- Cocaine significantly alters cardiac repolarization, increasing arrhythmia risk.
- Anginal chest pain in cocaine users may indicate myocardial ischemia and heightened risk of sudden death.
- Abnormal ventricular repolarization in cocaine abusers can lead to fatal arrhythmias.