We analyzed 26 autopsy cases of cocaine induced intracerebral hemorrhage and 
compared those findings with those of 26 autopsy cases of cocaine induced 
cerebral aneurysm rupture. The incidence of hypertensive cardiovascular disease 
(HCVD) was significantly higher in persons with intracerebral hemorrhage than in 
those with aneurysm rupture. Our findings suggest that HCVD predisposes to 
cocaine induced intracerebral hemorrhage. We propose that the foregoing 
relationship results from a cocaine induced alteration of cerebral 
autoregulation in the context of increased cerebral blood flow.