The case of a 31-year-old man who died suddenly, with a history of drug abuse and no risk factors for coronary artery disease, is herein reported. Postmortem examination disclosed critical stenosis due to a fibrocellular atherosclerotic plaque complicated by occlusive thrombosis at the level of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Chemico-toxicological analysis revealed high levels of cocaine, tetrahydrocannabinol, and metabolites. When dealing with an acute coronary syndrome in young people, with or without a history of drug abuse, toxicological examination should always be performed to rule out unnatural causes of myocardial ischemia.
Cannabis and cocaine: a lethal cocktail triggering coronary sudden death
MONTISCI, MASSIMO;THIENE, GAETANO;FERRARA, SANTO;BASSO, CRISTINA
2008
Abstract
The case of a 31-year-old man who died suddenly, with a history of drug abuse and no risk factors for coronary artery disease, is herein reported. Postmortem examination disclosed critical stenosis due to a fibrocellular atherosclerotic plaque complicated by occlusive thrombosis at the level of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Chemico-toxicological analysis revealed high levels of cocaine, tetrahydrocannabinol, and metabolites. When dealing with an acute coronary syndrome in young people, with or without a history of drug abuse, toxicological examination should always be performed to rule out unnatural causes of myocardial ischemia.Pubblicazioni consigliate
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