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World J Cardiol. Oct 26, 2011; 3(10): 337-338
Published online Oct 26, 2011. doi: 10.4330/wjc.v3.i10.337
Published online Oct 26, 2011. doi: 10.4330/wjc.v3.i10.337
Epicardial coronary artery intimal smooth muscle hyperplasia in a cocaine user
Tapan Bhavsar, Tanisha Hayes, John Wurzel, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19140, United States
Author contributions: Bhavsar T conceived the case report, acquired the patient data, searched the literature, and drafted the manuscript; Hayes T performed the gross examination of the specimen and made revisions to the manuscript; Wurzel J helped with the gross examination, performed the histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluation of the specimen, and made critical revisions to the manuscript; all authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Correspondence to: Tapan Bhavsar, MD, PhD, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Temple University Hospital, 3401 N Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19140, United States. tapan.bhavsar@tuhs.temple.edu
Telephone: +1-215-7073923 Fax: +1-215-7072738
Received: May 2, 2011
Revised: August 20, 2011
Accepted: August 27, 2011
Published online: October 26, 2011
Revised: August 20, 2011
Accepted: August 27, 2011
Published online: October 26, 2011
Abstract
Accelerated epicardial coronary artery atherosclerosis has been well-documented in cocaine users. There are only two reported cases of cocaine-associated diffuse intimal expansion by proliferated smooth muscle cells causing significant coronary luminal compromise. This type of lesion histologically resembled chronic transplant arteriopathy. Here, we report a third such case.
Keywords: Cocaine; Coronary artery; Hyperplasia; Smooth muscle