Unusual complications of heroin abuse: Transverse myelitis, rhabdomyolysis, compartment syndrome, and ARF
Year: 2008
Type: article
Study design: Case Report
Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Heroin overdose can cause various rare neurological complications like spongiform leukoencephalopathy, seizures, stroke, toxic amblyopia, transverse myelopathy, mononeuropathy, plexopathy, acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, rhabdomyolysis, compartment syndrome, fibrosing myopathy, and acute bacterial myopathy. We report here the simultaneous presentation of multiple complications of heroin toxicity. CASE REPORT: A young heroin addict was found unarousable lying in the lotus posture. Examination showed quadriplegia and left leg gangrene. He subsequently developed heroin-induced transverse myelitis, rhabdomyolysis, left leg compartment syndrome, and myoglobin-induced acute renal failure. DISCUSSION: This case leads us to consider a common linked or systemic mechanism of injury rather than a local mechanism when multiple simultaneous organ failure occurs complicating heroin abuse.
Source: Clinical Toxicology
Authors: Vaibhav Sahni, Dheeraj Garg, Sandeep Garg, Satish Kumar Agarwal, NarInder Pal Singh
Language: English
Subfield: Surgery
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2152497512