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Updated: Sep 29, 2026

Intracoronary Acetylcholine Provocation Testing for Assessment of Coronary Vasomotor Disorders
Published on: August 18, 2016
[Reversible coronary artery spasms associated with cocaine use]
M Hordijk-Trion1, L E de Laat, I Stoel
1Albert Schweitzer Ziekenhuis, locatie Amstelwijck, afd. Cardiologie, Postbus 444, 3000 AK Dordrecht.
Abstract:
A 32-year-old man developed coronary artery spasms after using cocaine. He had no significant coronary stenoses. The reversible spasms were diagnosed during heart catheterisation which was carried out because of typical chest pain and electrocardiographic changes. In young adults the use of cocaine increases the risk of a myocardial infarction by a factor of 6.9. Nevertheless, the number of people using cocaine has increased over the past years. The cardiovascular complications of using cocaine have a multifactorial pathogenesis. The treatment of coronary artery spasms may involve a calcium antagonist. Use of cocaine must be kept in mind as a cardiovascular risk factor in a patient presenting with chest pain.
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