Severe pulmonary embolism in a young marijuana smoker

Abstract

It is a popular belief, that marijuana smoking is not harmful to health. Some publications, however, suggest its possible association with mental, respiratory and cardiovascular complications, but not with venous thromboembolism. The authors describe a case of severe pulmonary embolism in a mildly obese, 22 year-old marijuana and tobacco smoker. After thrombolysis, rapid haemodynamic improvement was observed, contrary to slow regression of concomitant deep vein thrombosis during anticoagulation with warfarin. Toxycologic assessment of urine cannabinols was positive for two months. In trombophilia screening only moderate hyperhomocysteinaemia (not related to MTHFR C667T polymorphism) was found.
Kardiol Pol 2011; 69, 11: 1168–1170