| Cannabis, possible cardiac deaths and the coroner in Ireland. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 22231902 Owner: NLM Status: Publisher |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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BACKGROUND: The elevated risk of triggering a myocardial infarction by smoking cannabis is limited to the first 2 h after smoking. AIM: To examine the possible role of cannabis in cardiac deaths. CASES AND RESULTS: From 3,193 coroners' cases over 2 years, there were 13 cases where the clinical information was compatible with a primary cardiac cause of death. An inquest was held in three cases. Myocardial infarction was the primary cause of death in 54%. Other causes were sudden adult death syndrome, sudden death in epilepsy, and poisoning by alcohol and diazepam. Cannabis was mentioned once only on a death certificate, but not as a cause of death. Blood delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol-carboxylic acid was recorded in one case and in no case was plasma tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) measured. CONCLUSIONS: To attribute sudden cardiac death to cannabis, plasma THC should be measured in the toxicology screen in coroners' cases where urine cannabinoids are positive. A positive urine cannabinoids immunoassay alone is insufficient evidence in the linkage of acute cardiac death and cannabis. |
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Authors:
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W P Tormey |
Publication Detail:
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Type: JOURNAL ARTICLE Date: 2012-1-10 |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Irish journal of medical science Volume: - ISSN: 1863-4362 ISO Abbreviation: - Publication Date: 2012 Jan |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2012-1-10 Completed Date: - Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 7806864 Medline TA: Ir J Med Sci Country: - |
Other Details:
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Languages: ENG Pagination: - Citation Subset: - |
Affiliation:
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Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK, billtormey@gmail.com. |
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From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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