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Renal Amyloidosis and Subcutaneous Drug Abuse
Abstract
Two drug addicts who practiced subcutaneous injection of crushed tripelennamine and pentazocine tablets, a practice known as "skin-popping," developed nephrotic syndrome and demonstrated amyloidosis on renal biopsy. These patients had chronic inflammation of the skin in the form of abscesses and ulcerations. Although both patients were long-standing drug abusers, they had practiced intradermal drug administration for only 3 years. The occurrence of amyloidosis in these patients appears to relate to their particular drug habit and must be considered in the differential diagnosis of proteinuria in this patient population.
Article and Author Information
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▸From the Section of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Rush Medical College; Chicago, Illinois.
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▸Requests for reprints should be addressed to Zeev Sharon, M.D.; Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Hospital, 1753 West Congress Parkway; Chicago, IL 60612.
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- Received January 8, 1979.
- Accepted April 19, 1979.
- © 1979 American College of Physicians
