Cocaine-induced vasoconstriction in the human coronary microcirculation: new evidence from myocardial contrast echocardiography.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cocaine is a major cause of acute coronary syndrome, especially in young adults; however, the mechanistic underpinning of cocaine-induced acute coronary syndrome remains limited. Previous studies in animals and in patients undergoing cardiac catheterization suggest that cocaine constricts coronary microvessels, yet direct evidence is lacking.

Methods and results

We used myocardial contrast echocardiography to test the hypothesis that cocaine causes vasoconstriction in the human coronary microcirculation. Measurements were performed at baseline and after a low, nonintoxicating dose of intranasal cocaine (2 mg/kg) in 10 healthy cocaine-naïve young men (median age, 32 years). Postdestruction time-intensity myocardial contrast echocardiography kinetic data were fit to

SUBMITTER: Gurudevan SV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3868563 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature