Halo 194 · Published 2026-01-01 · DOI 10.5937/halo19432-67094
Introduction: Acute myocarditis is an inflammatory disease of the myocardium, affecting approximately 4-14 individuals per 100.000 population. Cannabis contains tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a psychoactive compound that has been associated with a range of adverse cardiovascular effects, including tachycardia, arrhythmias, hypoand hypertension, vasospasm, vasodilation, and an increased risk of myocardial infarction resulting from increased coronary blood flow. Case Report: A 29-year-old man presenting with palpitations and dyspnoea was admitted to the intensive care unit of the Clinic of Cardiology at the University Clinical Centre of Kragujevac. His medical history revealed daily cannabis use over the preceding three months. Cardiac evaluation documented multiple episodes of non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (nsVT), while cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) confirmed the presence of myocarditis. In the absence of other identifiable causes, cannabis use was considered the most likely factor contributing to the development of myocarditis. Conclusion: Myocarditis of unknown aetiology in young adults requires a targeted diagnostic approach. Screening for psychoactive substance use should be incorporated into the standard diagnostic workup of young patients presenting with myocarditis.
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