[Neurologic complications by cocaine abuse]

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Public Health
• Toxicology

Context:

• Argentina is experiencing a significant rise in cocaine use among adolescents and young adults across all socioeconomic strata.
• Local data on cocaine-related neurological events remains limited, despite an estimated 10% of cocaine being locally consumed.
• This study addresses the scarcity of information on neurological complications associated with cocaine abuse in Argentina.

Purpose:

• To document and analyze the spectrum of neurological diseases associated with cocaine abuse in a patient cohort in Argentina.
• To identify common neurological complications and their potential correlations with drug use patterns.

Summary:

• A study of 13 patients (mean age 29, 70% male) with cocaine-associated neurological disease revealed seizures (n=7), ischemic stroke (n=2), hemorrhagic stroke (n=2), memory disturbances (n=1), and paroxysmal dystonia (n=1).
• Psychiatric complaints were universal. Most patients used cocaine nasally and frequently abused alcohol concurrently (85%).
• No correlation was found between complication occurrence and cocaine quantity or prior use, with only one patient having a history of seizures.

Impact:

• Highlights the diverse and severe neurological risks of cocaine abuse, including seizures and strokes, in a vulnerable population.
• Suggests that cocaine's effects on neurotransmitters and cerebrovascular system, potentially involving hyperadrenergic effects and vasculitis, contribute to these neurological outcomes.
• Findings underscore the need for increased awareness and intervention strategies for cocaine abuse and its neurological sequelae.