Chronic marijuana consumption leading to reversible high-grade
atrioventricular block in young male: A case report
Abstract
Background Marijuana usage is increasing world over for both medicinal
and recreational purposes. Several states are legalizing cannabis and
physicians can expect to encounter more patients who use or abuse
marijuana. Adverse cardiovascular effects of marijuana like myocardial
infarction, cardiomyopathy and arrhythmias have been well described but
bradyarrythmia are rare and mechanisms are not well pronounced. Case
summary A 26 years old young medical intern with history of chronic
marijuana usage presented with complains of dizziness and recurrent
syncope. Heart rate at presentation was 42 beats per minute and rest of
the physical examination was unremarkable. There was high grade
atrioventricular block in the Electrocardiogram (ECG) and subsequent
electrophysiological (EP) study showed high grade supra-hisian
(nodal)atrioventricular block with mildly prolonged his-ventricular (HV)
interval. Urinary screen was positive for Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
After ruling out other possible causes, diagnosis of high-grade AV block
due chronic marijuana use was made. Dual chamber pacemaker was
implanted, and patient was discharged in stable condition. The heart
rhythm completely improved at three-month follow-up. Discussion We
report a novel finding in marijuana induced bradyarrythmia. Reversible
high grade atrioventricular (AV) block with electrophysiologic
determination of site of conduction blockade is not reported previously.
The mechanism of bradyarrythmia is thought to be mediated by increased
vagal tone. However direct toxic effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol
(THC), through cannabinoid receptors 1(CB1R ) on the cardiac conduction
system cannot be ruled out.