Acute and chronic cocaine exposure can produce myocardial ischemia and infarction in Yucatan swine.

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the acute and chronic administration of cocaine could induce myocardial infarction. Twenty-five minipigs were studied before and 4 months after balloon angioplasty of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) and balloon denudation of the left circumflex artery (LCx). Minipigs received cocaine in the initial and in the 4-month study (0.1, 0.5, and 3 mg/kg i.v.). Minipigs were randomized to group I (high-cholesterol diet + daily cocaine; 500 mg i.m.; n = 8), group II (high-cholesterol diet + no i.v. cocaine; n = 5), group III (chow diet + daily cocaine; 500 mg i.m.; n = 6), group IV (chow diet + no i.v. or i.m. cocaine; n = 6). In vivo, coronary flow significantly decreased and vascular resistance significantly increased after the administration of cocaine. Histamine significantly decreased the luminal diameters (LAD and LCx) in groups I, II and III. There were a total of five acute and 16 chronic infarctions among the three groups that received either short- or long-term cocaine; however, no infarct occurred in group IV. The combination of daily cocaine abuse with a cholesterol-rich diet enhanced coronary vasoreactivity in vivo and in vitro. We conclude that long-term or sporadic cocaine abuse can induce myocardial infarction.