[Cocaine abuse and acute heart disease]

Cocaine abuse is an increasing problem in western societies, and health personnel should be aware of the cardiovascular effects of cocaine, of which myocardial infarction is the most frequent reported complication. Cardiac arrhythmia is another serious complication. We describe a young female who, after injecting cocaine intravenously, suffered from circulatory collapse, thought to represent an arrhythmia. The authors discuss the pharmacological and clinical aspects of cocaine-induced myocardial infarction and arrhythmias, and suggest guidelines for treatment.