ABSTRACT

Cocaine is a potent sympathomimetic agent responsible for severe cardiovascular complications, including arrhythmias, myocardial ischemia, toxic myocarditis, and, in extreme cases, cardiogenic shock. We report a particularly severe case in a 26-year-old woman with known dilated cardiomyopathy and severely impaired left ventricular ejection fraction, admitted for acute cardiac decompensation following heavy and recent cocaine use. The dramatic hemodynamic deterioration required aggressive vasopressor and inotropic support, as well as multidisciplinary management. This case highlights the extreme danger of cocaine use in patients with pre-existing heart disease and underlines the importance of systematic screening and addiction prevention strategies.

KEYWORDS

Cocaine; Cardiogenic shock; Dilated cardiomyopathy; Acute heart failure; Cocaine-induced cardiotoxicity; Intracavitary thrombus; Intensive care; Toxic myocarditis; Hemodynamic instability; Substance abuse

REFERENCES

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Cite this article

SEBTI, N. E. H., HAIBA, Y. E., SEHBAOUI, A., BAGGAR, H., CHEBBAR, S., MOUNIR, A., & BOUHOURI, M. A. (2026). Severe Cardiogenic Shock Secondary to Acute Cocaine Intoxication Revealing Cocaine-Induced Dilated Cardiomyopathy in a Young Woman: A Case Report. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH & MEDICAL RESEARCH, 5(6), 565-566. https://doi.org/10.58806/ijhmr.2026.v5i6n09