Cardiac complications of cocaine.

Cocaine abuse should be considered in everyday cardiological practice for t hree reasons. The first one is epidemiological as there is an unprecedented increase in cocaine abuse in France and it may result in serious complicat ions, mainly cardiovascular. The second reason concerns modality of consump tion: it is usually associated with other toxic substances (including tobac co) and poly-intoxication is a more serious problem and the diagnostic diff iculties are greater. Finally, chest pain is the first symptom of myocardia l infarction in about 6% of cases. In cardiological practice, young adults with this symptom should be suspect ed of cocaine abuse and the diagnosis should be eventually confirmed by tox icological analysis.