Young Cannabis Smoker Developed Heart Failure, Stroke, and Gangrene | Research

The takeaway

A young man who smoked cannabis and tobacco recreationally developed non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy, a stroke from a cardiac blood clot, and gangrene requiring amputation.

Cardiologists, emergency medicine physicians, young adult health researchers

Cannabis can lead to cardiomyopathy and resulting cardioembolism even in young adults

What the researchers found

A young recreational cannabis and tobacco smoker developed progressive breathlessness over 4 months, then acute left-sided hemiparesis from a right middle cerebral artery infarct, along with left forearm gangrene from radial artery thrombosis. Cardiac MRI revealed non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Why it matters

While cannabis cardiovascular risks are often discussed in the context of older adults, this case highlights that severe cardiac and vascular complications can occur in young people who use cannabis recreationally.

The numbers in context

Young male patient; 4 months progressive breathlessness; 2 months cough; acute left hemiparesis with facial palsy; right middle cerebral artery territory infarct; left radial artery thrombosis with forearm gangrene requiring amputation; non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy on cardiac MRI.

How the study worked

Single case report describing a young male recreational cannabis smoker who presented with decompensated heart failure, cardioembolic stroke, and peripheral arterial thrombosis.

What this study cannot tell us

Single case report cannot establish causation; concurrent tobacco use makes it impossible to attribute effects to cannabis alone; underlying predisposition cannot be ruled out.

How to read the evidence

Single case report providing preliminary evidence of severe cardiovascular complications.

When this study was published

Published in 2021.

The bigger picture

This case adds to a growing body of reports linking cannabis use to serious cardiovascular events in young adults, though establishing direct causation is difficult when tobacco co-use is present.

Questions still open

What is the relative contribution of cannabis versus tobacco to cardiovascular risk in dual users? Are certain individuals genetically predisposed to cannabis-related cardiac complications?

Common questions

Can cannabis cause heart problems in young people?

This case report describes a young man who developed heart failure, stroke, and gangrene in the context of recreational cannabis and tobacco smoking. While the case cannot prove cannabis was the sole cause, it highlights potential cardiovascular risks.

What happened to the patient?

He developed dilated cardiomyopathy (weakened heart muscle), suffered a stroke from a blood clot originating in the heart, and developed gangrene in his forearm from arterial thrombosis, which eventually required amputation.

Read the original research

Recreational cannabis use causing non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy and cardioembolism in a young adult.

BMJ case reports, 14(6)

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Singh, Budha O; Panda, Prasan Kumar; Walia, Rohit. (2021). Recreational cannabis use causing non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy and cardioembolism in a young adult.. BMJ case reports, 14(6). https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2021-243193