Cardiomyocyte apoptosis in cocaine-induced myocarditis with involvement of bundle of His and left bundle branch

Int J Cardiol. 2006 Sep 10;112(1):116-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2005.08.052. Epub 2005 Nov 14.

Abstract

Cocaine abuse can cause degenerative and inflammatory alterations of the myocardium. Cocaine-induced myocarditis has been previously described, but mostly in chronic cocaine addicts. Among several pathogenetic mechanisms of cocaine-related myocardial damage, the myocardial adrenergic stress and cardiomyocytes apoptosis have been recently proposed. We report an unusual case of myocarditis involving the bundle of His and left bundle branch and cardiac myocytes apoptosis in otherwise healthy occasional cocaine abuser.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Bundle of His / drug effects*
  • Bundle of His / pathology
  • Bundle-Branch Block / chemically induced*
  • Bundle-Branch Block / pathology
  • Cocaine / adverse effects*
  • Cocaine-Related Disorders / complications*
  • Cocaine-Related Disorders / pathology
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Myocarditis / etiology*
  • Myocarditis / pathology
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / drug effects*
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / pathology
  • Vasoconstrictor Agents / adverse effects*

Substances

  • Vasoconstrictor Agents
  • Cocaine