Cardiac lesions in intravenous drug addicts

Heroin-associated myocardial damages—Conventional and immunohistochemical investigations

“…According to the literature [3,6,11,[33][34][35], drug-induced myocardial damages are discussed as one possible cause leading to final lung edema and death in cases of acute intoxication. The underlying process still remains unclear.…”

“…The effects of drugs, especially cocaine, on the cardiovascular system have been extensively documented in animal models and in humans, respectively [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]. There are reports of transitory cocaine-induced ischemic attacks (TIAs) and clinically silent cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs) [13].…”

The value of subendocardial haemorrhages as an indicator of exsanguination and brain injury – A retrospective forensic autopsy study

“…opiates, cocaine) and arsenic. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] According to early studies by Meixner, 1 the incidence of SE in cases of death by blood loss would be 60%. A more recent retrospective autopsy study by Harruf,7 showed the strongest correlation to fatal brain injuries (60% incidence), followed by intoxications (14%) and abdominal injuries (12%).…”

Interpretation of lesions of the cardiac conduction system in cocaine-related fatalities

“…This examination is also useful because the cardiac toxicity of drugs in general, and of cocaine in particular, may result in early myocardial fibrosis, foci in the myocardium and accelerated atherosclerosis. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] Such lesions may constitute the morphological substrate for arrhythmia and lead to fainting and even explain sudden death. At the same time, a survey of the literature shows that the conduction system is very rarely examined in drug addicts, in particular in victims whose chronic consumption is confirmed by hair analysis.…”