heroin and Neuritis

After intravenous injection of heroin, a 27-year-old male with altered mental status and hypotension was seen at the Emergency Service where acute pulmonary edema was noted. The problem was resolved three days later after oxygen therapy had been administered by face mask. Acute renal failure, rhabdomyolysis and monoplegia of the patient's left leg were exhibited during his stay at the Intensive Care Unit. Neurological examination and electro-diagnostic studies (electromyography and nerve conduction velocity) showed left lumbosacral plexitis. Hemodialysis was given. Though the patient's hospital course was uneventful, satisfactory recovery from his left leg weakness, which persisted for one year after hospital discharge, was finally achieved.

Topics: Acute Disease; Acute Kidney Injury; Adult; Heroin; Humans; Lumbosacral Plexus; Male; Neuritis; Pulmonary Edema; Rhabdomyolysis

Topics: Ataxia; Coma; Depression; Electroencephalography; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Mental Disorders; Muscular Diseases; Myelitis, Transverse; Nervous System Diseases; Neuritis; Neurocognitive Disorders; Nystagmus, Pathologic; Parkinson Disease, Secondary; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological; Sleep Wake Disorders; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Tremor

Topics: Adult; Black People; Brachial Plexus; Electrodiagnosis; Electromyography; Evoked Potentials; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Injections, Subcutaneous; Lumbosacral Plexus; Male; Motor Neurons; Muscular Diseases; Neural Conduction; Neuritis; New York City; Substance-Related Disorders; Time Factors

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Brain Abscess; Brain Edema; Cerebral Hemorrhage; Deafness; Heroin; Humans; Male; Meningitis; Myelitis, Transverse; Myoglobinuria; Myositis; Neuritis; Neurocognitive Disorders; Polyradiculopathy; Substance-Related Disorders; Tetanus