Ictus due to cocaine use, UTC for healthcare professionals

Cocaine generates vasospasm, which can produce severe complications. The use of this stimulant is an independent cerebrovascular risk factor for both ischemic and hemorrhagic events, particularly in those under 55 years of age (Larrosa-Campo, 2013), regardless of frequency or duration of use (Daras, 1991 ; Brown, 1992 ; Westover, 2007).

References

Brown, E., Prager, J., Lee, H. Y., & Ramsey, R. G. (1992). CNS complications of cocaine abuse: prevalence, pathophysiology and neuroradiology. AJR Am J Roentgenol, 159, 137 – 147.

Daras, M., Tuchman, A. J., & Marks, S. (1991). Central nervous system infarction related to cocaine abuse. Stroke, 22, 1320 – 1325.

Larrosa-Campo, D., Ramón-Carbajo, C., Benavente-Fernández, L., Álvarez-Escudero, R., Zeidan-Ramón, N., Calleja-Puerta, S., et al. (2013). Diagnóstico del ictus por cocaína y sus complicaciones. Rev Neurol, 57, 167 – 70.

Westover, A. N., McBride, S., & Haley, R. W. (2007). Stroke in young adults who abuse amphetamines or cocaine: a population-based study of hospitalized patients. Arch Gen Psychiatry, 64, 495 – 502.

Related topics

UTC for healthcare professionals

• Neurobiology of Addiction: https://www.issup.net/node/7342
• Classification of Drugs: https://www.issup.net/node/7521
• Cocaine: https://www.issup.net/node/8359 

Consequences of cocaine use

• Acute-onset heart failure secondary to long-standing abuse of alcohol, cocaine, and marijuana: An instructive case and review of pathophysiology: https://www.issup.net/node/5373