Bilateral symmetrical basal ganglia infarction after intravenous use of cocaine and heroin.
A case is reported of a young man who developed bilateral symmetrical basal ganglia infarcts after intravenous use of cocaine and heroin. Ischemic infarcts of the brain are a known complication of to cocaine use, alone or in combination with heroin (speed balling). This symmetrical occurrence of infarction, however, is unusual and has not been reported after cocaine use.
Daras
M D
MD
Department of Neurology, New York Medical College, Metropolitan Hospital 1901 First Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA. md815@columbia.edu
Orrego
J J
JJ
Akfirat
G L
GL
Samkoff
L M
LM
Koppel
B S
BS
D000328:Adult; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D020144:Basal Ganglia Cerebrovascular Disease / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D020520:Brain Infarction / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003042:Cocaine; D003932:Heroin; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D003932:Heroin; D003042:Cocaine