Muscle and Skin Infarction after Free-Basing Cocaine (Crack)
- JORGE C. ZAMORA-QUEZADA, M.D.;
- HAL DINERMAN, M.D.;
- MIGUEL J. STADECKER, M.D., Ph.D.; and
- JOHN J. KELLY, M.D.
Excerpt
The use of cocaine in the United States has been rising at an alarming rate (1). Toxic effects on the central nervous system are well known, including seizures, hyperpyrexia, anxiety, and psychosis (2). More recently, cardiac toxicity with acute myocardial infarction, cardiac arrhythmias, and sudden death have been attributed to recreational use of cocaine (3). There have also been reports of cerebral infarction after cocaine inhalation (crack) (4), and renal infarction and upper extremity infarction after parenteral use (5, 6).
A previously healthy 20-year-old white woman, 3 weeks before admission to New England Medical Center, suddenly developed a generalized skin
This 100-word excerpt has been provided in the absence of an abstract.
Acknowledgments
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: The authors thank Dr. Juan Canoso for advice and review of the manuscript and Sonia Alexander for photographic assistance.
Article and Author Information
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▸Requests for reprints should be addressed to Hal Dinerman, M.D.; New England Medical Center, Rheumatology Division, Box 406, 750 Washington Street; Boston, MA 02111.
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