A 24-year-old developed heart muscle inflammation after smoking marijuana
A 24-year-old man with no medical history or cardiovascular risk factors developed acute myocarditis with reduced heart function and a blood clot after marijuana consumption.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Following marijuana use, the patient presented with chest pain and was diagnosed with acute myocarditis based on ECG, cardiac enzyme elevation, and echocardiography. Follow-up echo revealed a small apical clot and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction without focal wall motion abnormality. He was discharged on anticoagulation.
Key Numbers
Patient age: 24. No prior medical history. No cardiovascular risk factors. Complications: apical thrombus, reduced LVEF. Treatment: oral anticoagulation.
How They Did This
Case report with clinical presentation, ECG, cardiac biomarkers, and serial echocardiography.
Why This Research Matters
While cannabis-associated myocardial infarction is increasingly recognized, myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) is rarely reported and may represent a distinct pathophysiology.
The Bigger Picture
Cannabis-induced myocarditis, though rare, adds to the spectrum of cardiac complications that clinicians should consider in young patients presenting with chest pain after cannabis use.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Single case report. Cannot definitively prove cannabis caused the myocarditis. Other potential causes (viral, autoimmune) were not completely excluded in the abstract. No cardiac MRI mentioned.
Questions This Raises
- ?What is the mechanism by which cannabis might cause myocarditis?
- ?How common is subclinical myocardial inflammation among regular cannabis users?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Acute myocarditis with apical thrombus in a 24-year-old after marijuana use
- Evidence Grade:
- Single case report without cardiac MRI confirmation.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2022.
- Original Title:
- Marijuana-induced myocarditis in a 24-year-old man.
- Published In:
- Archive of clinical cases, 9(2), 69-74 (2022)
- Authors:
- Alirezaei, Toktam, Mohammadi, Mohammad Kalateh Agha, Irilouzadian, Rana, Zarinparsa, Hamidreza
- Database ID:
- RTHC-03665
Evidence Hierarchy
Describes what happened to one person or a small group.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Can marijuana cause heart inflammation?
This case documents myocarditis (heart muscle inflammation) in a 24-year-old after marijuana use, though it is very rare and a single case cannot prove causation.
How was the patient treated?
The patient was stabilized and discharged on oral anticoagulation for a small blood clot that formed in the heart, with no symptoms at discharge.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-03665APA
Alirezaei, Toktam; Mohammadi, Mohammad Kalateh Agha; Irilouzadian, Rana; Zarinparsa, Hamidreza. (2022). Marijuana-induced myocarditis in a 24-year-old man.. Archive of clinical cases, 9(2), 69-74. https://doi.org/10.22551/2022.35.0902.10206
MLA
Alirezaei, Toktam, et al. "Marijuana-induced myocarditis in a 24-year-old man.." Archive of clinical cases, 2022. https://doi.org/10.22551/2022.35.0902.10206
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Marijuana-induced myocarditis in a 24-year-old man." RTHC-03665. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/alirezaei-2022-marijuanainduced-myocarditis-in-a
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.