Intravenous Heroin Abuse and Acute Myocardial Infarction

Abstract

The incidence of heroin-induced myocardial infarction is rare, and the actual mechanism remains unclear. The increased heart weight in relation to the increased thickness of the heart walls may be an aggravating factor, and thus, it is a fact that should be investigated.

Efeitos da Heroína nos Parâmetros Eletrocardiográficos

“… 14 Os efeitos cardíacos da heroína não se limitam aos efeitos miotóxicos. Pavlidis et al, 15 relataram que infarto do miocárdio pode ser observado, embora raramente, para o qual o mecanismo comum é desconhecido. 15 Orlando et al, 16 relataram redução subclínica da fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo em 20 indivíduos dependentes de heroína.…”

“…Pavlidis et al, 15 relataram que infarto do miocárdio pode ser observado, embora raramente, para o qual o mecanismo comum é desconhecido. 15 Orlando et al, 16 relataram redução subclínica da fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo em 20 indivíduos dependentes de heroína. 16 No entanto, esses estudos não fornecem informações sobre o efeito da dependência de heroína nos parâmetros eletrocardiográficos.…”

“… 14 The cardiac effects of heroin are not limited to myotoxic effects. Pavlidis et al 15 reported that myocardial infarction could be observed, even though rarely, in which the common mechanism is unknown. 15 Orlando et al 16 reported a subclinical reduction in the ejection fraction of the left ventricle in 20 heroin-dependent individuals.…”

“…Pavlidis et al 15 reported that myocardial infarction could be observed, even though rarely, in which the common mechanism is unknown. 15 Orlando et al 16 reported a subclinical reduction in the ejection fraction of the left ventricle in 20 heroin-dependent individuals. 16 However, these studies do not provide any information about the effect of heroin addiction on electrocardiographic parameters.…”

Investigation of patterns and dynamics of substance users: A long‐term toxicology study on a sample of the Greek population between 2005 and 2019

“…In cases of the concomitant use of benzodiazepines with heroin or alcohol, the risk for respiratory depression rises due to cumulative pharmacological effects, in turn increasing the risk for noncardiogenic pulmonary edema [24,25]. Throughout international literature, opioid use has been associated with evidence of arrhythmogenic effects including QT prolongation, supraventricular arrhythmias, sinus bradycardia, cardiac block, and atrial fibrillation, and therefore yields indirect correlation with acute ischemic heart disease [26,27]. In contrast, as benzodiazepines induce coronary vasodilation evidence is indicative that they may prevent dysrhythmias and block platelet aggregation, thus functioning protectively against acute ischemic heart disease [28,29].…”