Cardiac Ischemia Associated With Marijuana Use in an Adolescent

Abstract

With the increasing use of marijuana globally, including in pediatric populations, healthcare providers see more adverse health effects associated with this substance. This report details a case presentation of cardiac ischemia in an adolescent male associated with marijuana use. The patient presented with palpitations and chest pain shortly after consuming marijuana. Clinical workup demonstrated anterior ST-segment elevations and troponin elevation with no inflammatory marker elevation or findings of myocarditis on MRI. Extensive drug screening was only positive for marijuana, with a synthetic THC panel negative. These findings resolved after close observation and the patient was discharged in good clinical condition. This case shows a concerning presentation of marijuana-associated cardiac ischemia in an otherwise healthy adolescent, illustrating a potentially severe health concern with an increasingly common substance and demonstrating the need for pediatric centers to have a high index of suspicion for cardiac causes of chest pain when marijuana ingestion is involved even when there are no prior medical or cardiac risk factors.

Paroxysmal Sustained Ventricular Tachycardia with Cardiac Arrest and Myocardial Infarction in 29-Year-Old Man Addicted to Medical Marijuana—It Never Rains but It Pours

“…Clinical manifestation varies from angina to cardiac arrest. Young healthy men without cardiovascular risk factors often present with transient (classified as non-ST acute coronary syndromes) or persistent ST-segment elevations, and soared troponin concentrations with no inflammatory markers elevation or findings of myocarditis on MRI (which was observed in the presented case) [ 25 ]. Moreover, marijuana has been recognized as a significant contributor to early-onset cardiovascular diseases next to cocaine, amphetamines and alcohol [ 26 , 27 ].…”