[Reversible coronary artery spasms associated with cocaine use]

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.