A 34-year-old man with no medical history except marijuana use died suddenly from a completely blocked coronary artery caused by an organized blood clot, with no underlying atherosclerosis found.
Forensic pathologists, cardiologists, emergency medicine physicians
Complete coronary occlusion with zero atherosclerosis
What the researchers found
Autopsy of a 34-year-old man with no previous medical history besides marijuana use revealed focal complete occlusion of the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery by an organized thrombus. No atherosclerotic plaques were found in any coronary artery. Toxicology showed elevated delta-9-THC levels (50 mg/mL). The cause of death was myocardial ischemia leading to fatal cardiac arrhythmia from coronary artery occlusion without atherosclerosis.
Why it matters
This autopsy case provides direct pathological evidence that marijuana use may cause coronary thrombosis without underlying atherosclerosis in young adults, a finding consistent with proposed mechanisms including arteritis, vasospasm, and platelet aggregation.
The numbers in context
34-year-old male; delta-9-THC 50 mg/mL; complete occlusion of proximal LAD; organized thrombus; no atherosclerosis in any coronary artery; mild cardiomegaly
How the study worked
Complete autopsy with gross and microscopic examination. Trichrome and elastin stains performed on coronary arteries. Blood and vitreous fluid toxicology analysis.
What this study cannot tell us
Single case report cannot establish causation between marijuana use and coronary thrombosis. Organized thrombus suggests a non-acute event, and the temporal relationship to cannabis use is unclear. Other potential thrombotic risk factors may not have been fully evaluated.
How to read the evidence
Single autopsy case provides direct pathological evidence of coronary thrombosis in a cannabis user, but cannot establish a causal relationship.
When this study was published
2025 publication
The bigger picture
Sudden cardiac death in young adults without traditional risk factors challenges conventional cardiovascular risk assessment. This case adds to the small but growing body of autopsy evidence linking cannabis use to coronary events through non-atherosclerotic mechanisms.
Questions still open
- How common is non-atherosclerotic coronary thrombosis among cannabis users? Should young adults who use cannabis regularly undergo cardiovascular screening?
Common questions
How can a blood clot form without blocked arteries?
Does this mean marijuana causes heart attacks?
Read the original research
A Fatal Case of Coronary Thrombosis in a Young Male Triggered by Marijuana Use.
Cureus, 17(11), e98083
Citation
Aravind, Akhila; Kyle, Patrick B; Subramony, Charulochana. (2025). A Fatal Case of Coronary Thrombosis in a Young Male Triggered by Marijuana Use.. Cureus, 17(11), e98083. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.98083