[Complications related with cocaine abuse that required hospital admission]

Although cocaine abuse is an increasingly important medical problem, many manifestations of its toxicity are not well understood. The aim of this study is to review the most serious clinical manifestations related to cocaine abuse.

We reviewed the medical records of all patients over 16 years of age admitted to the hospital from January 1994 to December 2005 where cocaine abuse was recorded in their clinical history.

A total of 170 patients, with 188 episodes and 268 pathologic manifestations related to cocaine abuse were included. Thirty two out of the 170 patients (18.8%) were females. Mean age was 33 +/- 11 years, with no significant difference between males and females. A total of 88.8% were smokers, 70% had alcohol abuse and 67.3% had other illegal drug abuses. The more frequent reason for their hospitalization was: pulmonary infection (29.6%), bronchial hyperreactivity (14%), acute psychotic attack related to drugs (12%), ischemic heart disease (10%), infectious endocarditis (7.8%), cerebrovascular disease (8.6%), seizures (6.2%) and severe abdominal complications (2.3%). Eight patients died (6.25%). The association with cocaine was only suspected in 46% of the toxic manifestations.

Several clinical manifestations are associated to cocaine abuse and its consumption causes potentially fatal complications. The integral treatment of these patients could be improved if these complications are kept in mind.