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Cardiovascular complications of cocaine: Imaging findings

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Abstract

Cocaine is the second most commonly abused illicit drug in the US and the most common one involved in emergency department visits, the majority of which are related to the cardiovascular system. Cardiovascular complications related with cocaine abuse include myocardial ischemia and infarction, myocarditis, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy, aortic dissection, thrombosis, stroke and cerebral hemorrhage, and different forms of visceral ischemia, among others. In an era where cocaine use has reached epidemic proportions, it is necessary for the radiologist to understand the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and imaging characteristics of its cardiovascular complications.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Radiology, The University of Texas HSC at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA

    Carlos S. Restrepo & Daniel Vargas

  2. Radiology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA

    Carlos A. Rojas

  3. Radiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA

    Santiago Martinez

  4. Radiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA

    Roy Riascos

  5. Cardiology, The University of Texas HSC at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA

    Alejandro Marmol-Velez

  6. Radiology, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogota, Colombia

    Jorge Carrillo

  7. Thoracic Radiology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Mail Code 7800, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX, 78229-3900, USA

    Carlos S. Restrepo

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  1. Carlos S. Restrepo
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  2. Carlos A. Rojas
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  3. Santiago Martinez
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Correspondence to Carlos S. Restrepo.

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Restrepo, C.S., Rojas, C.A., Martinez, S. et al. Cardiovascular complications of cocaine: Imaging findings. Emerg Radiol 16, 11–19 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10140-008-0762-x

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