Coronary Artery Aneurysms: Another reason to avoid cocaine

Link: Increased Prevalence of Coronary Artery Aneurysms Among Cocaine Users -- Satran et al. 111 (19): 2424 -- Circulation.
These investigators say they had noticed an unusual number of coronary artery aneurysms among cocaine users. (Aneurysm, a weakening and bulging of an arterial wall--think of a tire wall that's about to burst). To assess the possible relationship between cocaine use and CAA, they compared coronary angiograms in a group of patients with a history of cocaine use with those from a group of patients of the same general age and with similar risk factors (smoking, diabetes, etc.) CAA was present in more than 30% of the cocaine users and in only 8% of the control group who did not use cocaine, even thought the control group was more likely to have diabetes and severe coronary artery disease.