title: Brachial and lumbar plexitis as a reaction to heroin.
abstract: A case is described of a young man who presented with acute pulmonary edema and flaccid paralysis of the right upper and lower extremity, following his first injection of heroin and was found in a comatose state. Needle electromyographic findings were compatible with a severe lesion of the right brachial plexus and a moderate lesion of the right lumbar plexus. An allergic or a hypersensitivity reaction might have been the possible cause.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical School, University of Athens, Aeginition Hospital, Greece.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stamboulis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Psimaras
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Malliara-Loulakaki
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000187:drug effects*; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications; D003932:Heroin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced; D008160:Lumbosacral Plexus / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D010243:Paralysis / Q000139:chemically induced; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D003932:Heroin