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Received: 19 December 2011 / Accepted: 28 January 2012 / Published online: 20 April 2012
Springer-Verlag Wien 2012
Akuter Myokardinfarkt als Folge der Einnahme activation of the sympathetic nervous system, which in
von Cayenne Pfeffer Pillen: Ein Fallbericht turn increases energy expenditure and lipid metabolism
resulting in decreased fat tissue [1, 2]. Activation of the
Zusammenfassung Der Gebrauch von Cayenne Pfeffer sympathetic nervous system may exert deleterious meta-
enthaltende Pillen zur Gewichtsabnahme nimmt immer bolic and cardiovascular effects [3]. In this paper, we
mehr zu. Der Hauptwirkstoff der Cayenne Pfeffer Pillen present a case of a 41-year-old male patient with no car-
ist Capsaicin, dessen Wirkung auf das kardiovaskulre diovascular risk factors who took cayenne pepper pills to
System umstritten ist. In der vorliegenden Arbeit stel- lose weight and developed acute myocardial infarction.
len wir den Fall eines 41-jhrigen mnnlichen Patien-
ten ohne kardiovaskulre Risikofaktoren vor, der zur
Gewichtsabnahme Cayenne Pfeffer Pillen einnahm und Case report
einen akuten Herzinfarkt erlitt.
A 41-year-old male patient with no previous complaints
Schlsselwrter: Capsaicin, Akuter Herzinfarkt or disease presented to our emergency department with
squeezing chest pain started 8h ago. He had no known
Summary The use of weight loss pills containing cay- cardiovascular risk factors. He also had no family history
enne pepper has ever been increasing. The main com- of coronary artery disease. He reported no exposure to
ponent of cayenne pepper pills is capsaicin. There are emotional or physical stress. He had a 3month history of
conflicting data about the effects of capsaicin on the car- use of cayenne pepper pills to lose weight. On physical
diovascular system. In this paper, we present the case of examination, his blood pressure was 130/80mmHg and
a 41 year old male patient with no cardiovascular risk heart rate was 108 beats/min. Cardiovascular and respi-
factors who took cayenne pepper pills to lose weight and ratory system examination was normal. Analysis of the
developed acute myocardial infarction. ECGs revealed pathologic Q waves in leads V15; 4mm
ST segment elevation on V2, 3 mm in V3, 2 mm in V4;
Keywords: Capsaicin, Acute coronary syndrome 1mm ST segment elevation in aVL; 1mm reciprocal ST
segment depression in DII, III, and aVF (Fig. 1). Based
on theese findings, the patient was taken to the coronary
Introduction angiography laboratory for primary percutaneous coro-
nary intervention with the diagnosis of acute anterior
The use of weight loss pills containing cayenne pepper myocardial infarction. It was found that the left anterior
has ever been increasing. The main component of cay- descending artery (LAD) was 100 % occluded after the
enne pepper pills is capsaicin. Capsaicin increases cate- diagonal branch (Fig. 2). The left circumflex and right
cholamine secretion from the adrenal medulla through coronary artery were normal (Fig.2). A 3.525mm bare-
metal stent was implanted in the LAD after predilatation
with a 2.515mm balloon catheter. During the follow-up
M. R.Sayin,MD() T.Karabag, MD S. M.Dogan, MD
period, the peak troponin level was>50 ng/ml and the
I.Akpinar, MD M.Aydin, MD
Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Zonguldak peak CK-MB was>300ng/ml. The triglyceride level was
Karaelmas University, Kozlu 67600, Zonguldak, Turkey 38mg/dl, total cholesterol 144mg/dl, LDL 99mg/dl, and
e-mail: sayinmr@mynet.com HDL 37 mg/dl. Complete blood count, blood glucose,
13 A case of acute myocardial infarction due to the use of cayenne pepper pills 285
case report
286 A case of acute myocardial infarction due to the use of cayenne pepper pills 13
case report
be warned about use of this kind of product whose effects 6. Hachiya S, Kawabata F, Ohnuki K, Inoue N, Yoneda H,
have not been fully elucidated. Yazawa S, et al. Effects of CH-19 Sweet, a non-pungent cul-
tivar of red pepper, on sympathetic nervous activity, body
temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure in humans.
Conflict of interest Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2007;71:6716.
The authors report no conflict of interest. 7. Patan S, Marte F, La Rosa FC, La Rocca R. Capsaicin and
arterial hypertensive crisis. Int J Cardiol. 2010;144:e267.
8. Patan S, Marte F, Di Bella G, Cerrito M, Coglitore S. Cap-
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13 A case of acute myocardial infarction due to the use of cayenne pepper pills 287