Dysregulation of Plasma Growth Factors and Chemokines in Cocaine Use Disorder: Implications for Dual Diagnosis with Schizophrenia and Antisocial Personality Disorder in an Exploratory Study.

INTRODUCTION: Dual diagnosis in individuals with cocaine use disorders (CUDs) presents a mental health challenge marked by an increased susceptibility to disabling morbidities and premature mortality. Despite extensive research on depression and anxiety, other prevalent comorbidities, such as psychotic and personality disorders, have received less attention. This study explores inflammation-related mediators as potential biomarkers for CUD and dual diagnosis with schizophrenia (SCZ) or antisocial personality disorder (APD). METHODS: This exploratory study included 95 participants, comprising 40 healthy subjects and 55 abstinent patients with CUD. Lifetime CUD was diagnosed either as single diagnosis (CUD group, N = 25) or as a dual diagnosis (DD group. N = 30) with SCZ (CUD+SCZ subgroup) or APD (CUD+APD subgroup). Participants were clinically assessed, and the plasma concentrations of growth factors (i.e., G-CSF, BDNF, and VEGF-A) and chemokines (i.e., CCL11/eotaxin-1, CCL2/MCP-1, and CXCL12/SDF-1) were determined and log(10)-transformed for analysis. RESULTS: Growth factors and chemokines were dysregulated by CUD and psychiatric diagnoses. Specifically, patients in the CUD group exhibited significantly lower concentrations of G-CSF and CCL11/eotaxin-1 than the control group. In contrast, the DD group showed significantly higher concentrations of all analytes than both the CUD and control groups. Additionally, no differences in these analytes were observed between the CUD+SCZ and CUD+APD subgroups within the DD group. Regarding cocaine-related variables, significant associations were identified in the CUD group: an inverse correlation between the age at first cocaine use and the concentrations of BDNF and CCL2/MCP-1; and a positive correlation between the duration of the cocaine abstinence and the concentrations of BDNF and CCL11/eotaxin-1. Lastly, a logistic regression model incorporating all these analytes demonstrated high discriminatory power in distinguishing patients with CUD alone from those with dual diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with dual diagnosis of CUD exhibit elevated concentrations of growth factors and chemokines, distinguishing them from those with CUD alone. It is unclear whether the differences in these inflammatory mediators are specific to the presence of SCZ and APD. The study highlights potential biomarkers and associations, providing valuable insights into the intricate interplay of CUD and psychiatric disorders to enhance clinical diagnosis and therapeutics.

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis or its mimic? A case report.

Differentiation between granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) limited to the upper airways and cocaine-induced midline destructive lesion (CIMDL) may be particularly difficult because of their common histopathologic features and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) profiles. We herein present a case involving a young woman with an initial diagnosis of GPA based on upper and lower airway manifestations and constitutional symptoms, histopathologic evidence of granulomas, a positive cytoplasmic ANCA indirect immunofluorescent test result, and proteinase 3 positivity by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). CIMDL was confirmed based on the appearance of a hard palate perforation, positivity for methylecgonine on urine toxicology, a positive perinuclear ANCA indirect immunofluorescent test result, and subsequent human neutrophil elastase (HNE) ANCA positivity by ELISA. Finally, based on the coexistence of CIMDL, constitutional symptoms, and lower airway manifestations, the diagnosis was modified to cocaine-induced GPA mimic. Urine toxicology for cocaine and HNE ELISA are indicated in young patients with GPA who develop limited airway disease to check for the presence of CIMDL and cocaine-/levamisole-induced ANCA-associated vasculitis. Continued abstinence from cocaine is the first-choice therapy for both CIMDL and cocaine-induced GPA mimic.

Discriminating cocaine use from other sympathomimetics using wearable electrocardiographic (ECG) sensors.

BACKGROUND: Our group has established the feasibility of using on-body electrocardiographic (ECG) sensors to detect cocaine use in the human laboratory. The purpose of the current study was to test whether ECG sensors and features are capable of discriminating cocaine use from other non-cocaine sympathomimetics. METHODS: Eleven subjects with cocaine use disorder wore the Zephyr BioHarness™ 3 chest band under six experimental (drug and non-drug) conditions, including 1) laboratory, intravenous cocaine self-administration, 2) after a single oral dose of methylphenidate, 3) during aerobic exercise, 4) during tobacco use (N=7 who smoked tobacco), and 5) during routine activities of daily inpatient living (unit activity). Three ECG-derived feature sets served as primary outcome measures, including 1) the RR interval (i.e., heart rate), 2) a group of ECG interval proxies (i.e., PR, QS, QT and QTc intervals), and 3) the full ECG waveform. Discriminatory power between cocaine and non-cocaine conditions for each of the three outcomes measures was expressed as the area under the receiver operating characteristics (AUROC) curve. RESULTS: All three outcomes successfully discriminated cocaine use from unit activity, exercise, tobacco, and methylphenidate conditions with a mean AUROC values ranging from 0.66 to 0.99 and with least squares means values all statistically different/higher than 0.5 among all subjects [F(3, 99) = 3.38, p =0.02] and among those with tobacco use [F(4, 84) = 5.39, p = 0.0007]. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary results support discriminatory power of wearable ECG sensors for detecting cocaine use.

Cocaine use in trauma: the vices-paradox revisited.

BACKGROUND: The "vices-paradox" describes the paradoxical association between illicit substance use and decreased mortality risk in trauma patients. Cocaine's vasoconstrictive effects may decrease hemorrhage but also increase the risk of thromboembolic complications. To clarify the effects of cocaine use on trauma patients, we compared the risk of mortality and thromboembolic complications in patients screening positive for cocaine with those screening negative. METHODS: We searched the Trauma Quality Improvement Program database to identify patients 18 years and over who had presented with a drug and alcohol screen on admission between 2017 and 2019. After excluding all patients who had tested positive for alcohol and substances other than cocaine, we then compared the clinical outcomes of patients who were positive and negative for cocaine use. RESULTS: Of the 312,553 patients identified, 11,942 (3.82%) had tested positive for cocaine. Cocaine users were significantly more likely to present with stab (8.0% vs 3.1%) or gunshot wounds (8.0% vs 3.0%) but had lower rates of mortality (3.6% vs 4.7%), myocardial infarction (0.1% vs 0.2%,) and cerebrovascular accident (0.3% vs 0.4%,). After controlling for covariates, the risk of death, myocardial infarction, and cerebrovascular accident did not significantly differ between cocaine and non-cocaine users. CONCLUSION: Trauma patients positive for cocaine have similar risks of death and thromboembolic complications and so have a similar prognosis to patients negative for all drugs or alcohol, indicating that the "vices-paradox" does not apply to cocaine use. However, these patients more commonly present after penetrating trauma, suggesting cocaine use in hazardous environments.

A Case of Chronic Intranasal Cocaine Abuse Masquerading and Exacerbating Underlying Orbital IgG4-Related Disease.

Chronic cocaine use may lead to widespread intranasal inflammation and necrosis. Cases of cocaine use affecting the orbit have been reported in the literature with a clinical spectrum ranging from inflammation-induced p-anti-cytoplasmic neutrophil autoantibodies positive vasculitis to severe midline destructive lesions resulting in orbital apex syndrome. Here, we present a case of chronic intranasal cocaine abuse with midline destruction that initially obscured diagnosis of, and is hypothesized to have exacerbated, underlying IgG4-Related Disease (IgG4-RD) of the orbit over a 2-year period.

[Cocaine-induced vasculitis and mimics of vasculitis]. / Kokain-induzierte Vaskulitiden und Vaskulitis-Mimics.

Cocaine is a psychotropic tropane alkaloid and stimulant drug. Nasal insufflation of cocaine powder is a common route of administration. In Germany, cocaine is frequently adulterated with levamisole, an anthelminthic drug with immunomodulatory effects. Both substances are linked to various autoimmune conditions. Cocaine-induced midline destructive lesions cause a progressive destruction of osteocartilaginous structures within the upper respiratory tract and can mimic localized granulomatosis with polyangiitis. In addition, systemic vasculitis due to cocaine and levamisole has been reported. Differentiation of these conditions from primary vasculitis can be challenging because antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) are commonly detected. Early diagnosis of these conditions is crucial as clinical improvement is closely related to drug cessation.

Distribution of cocaine-induced midline destructive lesions: systematic review and classification.

PURPOSE: Intranasal cocaine is known to potentially lead to midline destructive lesions. The present systematic review was undertaken to systematically define the localization of cocaine-induced midline destructive lesions and their prevalence and to propose a practical classification of these lesions. METHODS: A PRISMA-compliant systematic review was performed in multiple databases with criteria designed to include all studies published until March 2021 providing a precise definition of cocaine-induced midline lesions in humans. We selected all original studies except case reports. After duplicate removal, abstract and full-text selection, and quality assessment, we reviewed eligible articles for lesion localization, patients' demographics, exposure to cocaine, and relationship with external nose destruction. RESULTS: Among 2593 unique citations, 17 studies were deemed eligible (127 patients). All studies were retrospective case series. The destructive process determined a septal perforation in 99.2% of patients. The distribution prevalence decreased from the inferior third of the sinonasal complex (nasal floor and inferolateral nasal wall, respectively, 59% and 29.9% of patients) to the middle third (middle turbinate and ethmoid, 22.8% of patients), and ultimately to neurocranial structures (7.9% of patients). Nasal deformities were inconsistently reported across reviewed studies. Cocaine use duration, frequency, and status were reported only occasionally. CONCLUSION: Based on the distribution prevalence observed, we propose a four-grade destruction location-based classification. Future prospective studies following the evolution of cocaine-induced lesions are needed to validate our classification, its relationship with lesion evolution, and whether it represents a reliable tool for homogeneous research results reporting.

Bidirectional influence of heroin and cocaine escalation in persons with dual opioid and cocaine dependence diagnoses.

Persons with dual severe opioid and cocaine use disorders are at risk of considerable morbidity, and the bidirectional relationship of escalation of mu-opioid agonists and cocaine use is not well understood. The aim of this study was to examine the bidirectional relationship between escalation of heroin and cocaine use in volunteers dually diagnosed with opioid and cocaine dependence (OD + CD). Volunteers from New York with OD + CD (total n = 295; male = 182, female = 113; age ≥ 18 years) were interviewed with the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM-IV Axis I Disorders and Kreek-McHugh-Schluger-Kellogg scales for dimensional measures of drug exposure, which also collect ages of 1st use and onset of heaviest use. Time of escalation was defined as age of onset of heaviest use minus age of 1st use in whole years. Times of escalation of heroin and cocaine were positively correlated in both men (Spearman r = .34, 95% confidence interval [CI: .17, .48], p < .0001) and women (Spearman r = .51, [.27, .50], p < .0001) volunteers. After we adjusted for demographic variables, a Cox regression showed that time of cocaine escalation was a predictor of time of heroin escalation (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.97, 95% CI [0.95, 0.99], p = .003). Another Cox regression showed that this relationship is bidirectional, because time of heroin escalation was also a predictor of time of cocaine escalation (HR = 0.98, [0.96-0.99], p = .016). In these adjusted models, gender was not a significant predictor of time of escalation of either heroin or cocaine. Therefore, escalation did not differ robustly by gender when adjusting for demographics and other major variables. Overall, rapid escalation of cocaine use was a predictor of rapid escalation of heroin use, and vice versa, in persons with dual severe opioid and cocaine use disorders. These findings suggest a shared vulnerability to rapid escalation of these 2 drugs in persons with dual severe opioid and cocaine use disorders. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Cocaine Use and White Matter Hyperintensities in Homeless and Unstably Housed Women.

OBJECTIVES: Cocaine use has been linked to stroke in several studies. However, few studies have considered the influence of cocaine use on stroke mechanisms such as small vessel disease (SVD). We conducted a study to assess associations between the toxicology-confirmed use of multiple drugs, including cocaine, and a marker of SVD, white matter hyperintensities (WMH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a nested case-control study (n = 30) within a larger cohort study (N = 245) of homeless and unstably housed women recruited from San Francisco community venues. Participants completed six monthly study visits consisting of an interview, blood draw, vital sign assessment and baseline brain MRI. We examined associations between toxicology-confirmed use of multiple substances, including cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, alcohol and tobacco, and WMH identified on MRI. RESULTS: Mean study participant age was 53 years, 70% of participants were ethnic minority women and 86% had a history of cocaine use. Brain MRIs indicated the presence of WMH (i.e., Fazekas score>0) in 54% (18/30) of imaged participants. The odds of WMH were significantly higher in women who were toxicology-positive for cocaine (Odd Ratio=7.58, p=0.01), but not in women who were toxicology-positive for other drugs or had several other cerebrovascular risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Over half of homeless and unstably housed women showed evidence of WMH. Cocaine use is highly prevalent and a significant correlate of WMH in this population, while several traditional CVD risk factors are not. Including cocaine use in cerebrovascular risk calculators may improve stroke risk prediction in high-risk populations and warrants further investigation.

A Positive Cocaine Urine Toxicology Test and the Effect on Intraoperative Hemodynamics Under General Anesthesia.

BACKGROUND: Cocaine has a short biological half-life, but inactive urine metabolites may be detectable for a week following use. It is unclear if patients who test positive for cocaine but have a normal electrocardiogram and vital signs have a greater percentage of hemodynamic events intraoperatively. METHODS: A total of 328 patients with a history of cocaine use who were scheduled for elective noncardiac surgery under general anesthesia were enrolled. Patients were categorized into cocaine-positive versus cocaine-negative groups based on the results of their urine cocaine toxicology test. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate whether asymptomatic cocaine-positive patients had similar percentages of intraoperative hemodynamic events, defined as (1) a mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) of <65 or >105 mm Hg and (2) a heart rate (HR) of <50 or >100 beats per minute (bpm) compared to cocaine-negative patients. The study was powered to assess if the 2 groups had an equivalent mean percent of intraoperative hemodynamic events within specific limits using an equivalence test of means consisting of 2 one-sided tests. RESULTS: The cocaine-positive group had a blood pressure (BP) that was outside the set limits 19.4% (standard deviation [SD] 17.7%) of the time versus 23.1% (SD 17.7%) in the cocaine-negative group (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.5-7.0). The cocaine-positive group had a HR outside the set limits 9.6% (SD 16.2%) of the time versus 8.2% (SD 14.9%) in the cocaine-negative group (95% CI, 4.3-1.5). Adjusted for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), smoking status, and the presence of comorbid hypertension, renal disease, and psychiatric illness, the cocaine-positive and cocaine-negative patients were similar within a 7.5% margin of equivalence for MAP data (ß coefficient = 2%, P = .003, CI, 2-6) and within a 5% margin of equivalence for HR data (ß coefficient = 0.2%, P < .001, CI, 4-3). CONCLUSIONS: Asymptomatic cocaine-positive patients undergoing elective noncardiac surgery under general anesthesia have similar percentages of intraoperative hemodynamic events compared to cocaine-negative patients.

An unusual cause of 'tree-in-bud' appearance in CT-chest during COVID-19 pandemic.

'Tree-in-bud' (TIB) appearance in computed tomography (CT) chest is most commonly a manifestation of infection. We here describe an unusual cause of TIB during the COVID-19 pandemic. A young male patient who had a history of fever, cough, and respiratory distress presented in the emergency department. As these symptoms matched with coronavirus infection, the COVID-19 test was done, which was found negative. He was then moved to the intensive care unit where he developed severe acute respiratory distress syndrome and was put on mechanical ventilation. Further workup did not reveal any source of infection, as all his cultures were negative, but his CT chest showed a tree-in-bud appearance. After obtaining a detailed history from his friends, the patient was found a chronic abuser of inhaled cocaine and treated with intravenous steroids. Subsequently, he was weaned from the ventilator and discharged from the intensive care unit after becoming asymptomatic.

Cocaïne et lésions destructrices centro-faciales : à propos d'un cas.

INTRODUCTION: Cocaine use is associated with multiple complications, some of which can mimic systemic diseases, especially Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody (ANCA) associated vasculitis. We report a case of Cocaine Induced Midline Destructive Lesions (CIMDL) for which a diagnosis of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) was discussed. CASE REPORT: A 42-year-old male, cocaine consumer, was admitted in our department for a centrofacial destructive process. He had no extra ear, nose and throat (ENT) involvement. ANCA were positive with a perinuclear fluorescence pattern and an anti-Proteinase 3 specificity. Regarding this unusual immunologic pattern and in the absence of histological argument for a GPA, a diagnosis of CIMDL was made. CONCLUSION: CIMDL is a centrofacial destructive process due to intranasal cocaine use. It is frequently associated with the presence of p-ANCA with both anti-HNE and anti-PR3 specificity.

A Unique Presentation of Levamisole-Induced Antineutrophil- Cytoplasmic-Antibody-Positive Vasculitis Presenting as Inflammatory Orbitopathy.

A 35-year-old woman with a history of cocaine abuse presented with progressively worsening OS pain. Neuroimaging revealed a 3-cm ill-defined left orbital lesion involving the intraconal and extraconal spaces. The orbital mass was biopsied via an anterior orbitotomy approach. Pathology demonstrated prominent angiocentric granulomatous and lymphoplasmacytic inflammation consistent with vasculitis. Laboratory tests were significant for neutropenia, positive perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies with high titer, and positive myeloperoxidase antibodies, consistent with levamisole-induced vasculitis. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of cocaine-levamisole-induced vasculitis presenting as orbitopathy.

Diagnostic sequence of cocaine use disorder in relation to other mental health conditions among college students.

Objective: Cocaine use is increasing. Comorbidities and diagnostic sequencing are needed among college students to inform treatment of cocaine use disorder (CUD). Method: Using electronic medical records from the psychiatric clinic at the student health care center of a large, public university from 2005 to 2015, patients diagnosed with CUD were identified. Their top mental health conditions were identified and assessed to see whether the first diagnosis of these conditions was made (1) before, (2) at the same time as, or (3) after the first diagnosis of CUD. Results: Among the 50 CUD patients, their most common mental health comorbidities were alcohol use disorder, anxiety, depression, and cannabis use disorder. Anxiety and depression were likely to be diagnosed before CUD; alcohol and cannabis use disorders were likely to be diagnosed concurrently with CUD. Conclusion: Diagnostic sequencing can be used to inform screening, workup, and treatment for patients with CUD.

Cocaine Use in Adolescents and Young Adults.

Cocaine use by adolescents and young adults continues to be a significant public health issue and the cause of medical and psychological morbidity and mortality. Although use rates are lower than those seen with alcohol, tobacco, and other illicit substances such as marijuana, cocaine is highly addictive and presents significant acute and long-term medical and psychological effects. This article reviews the epidemiology of cocaine use among adolescents and young adults, discusses the pharmacology and neurobiology of cocaine use and dependence, provides information regarding acute intoxication and systemic effects seen with more chronic use, and describes current assessment and treatment approaches.

AEME production in cocaine positive hair after thermal hair treatment.

INTRODUCTION: Currently, hair straightening has become a regular hair treatment for women but likewise for men. Several studies have shown that thermal straightening has an influence on the concentration of ethyl glucuronide and of drugs of abuse content in hair. Heat treatment of hair may decrease concentrations of cocaine (COC) and of cocaethylene (CE) in hair and increase concentrations of benzoylecgonine (BZE). The goal of this study was to evaluate the influence of thermal straightening on anhydroecgonine methyl ester (AEME), a known cocaine smoking marker, in hair. METHOD: 42 positive COC hair samples were treated in vitro with iron plates heated to 200°C. During this treatment one lock of hair was put sequentially 30 times in contact with a hair straightener during 2s, the other lock was not treated. The hair samples were analyzed by a validated GC/MS method for AEME, COC and its metabolites BZE, norcocaine (NC), ecgonine methyl ester (EME) and CE. RESULTS: After treatment, a median increase of concentrations was observed for AEME (110.3%) and BZE (27.6%) whereas a median decrease was found for COC (56.9%), NC (46.7%), EME (33.3%) and CE (41.7%). The median BZE/COC ratio of 0.6 in not treated hair increased to 1.5 in treated hair. CONCLUSION: Regarding our in vitro results, AEME may be produced by thermal hair straightening. Therefore, the presence of AEME in hair should not be used as an irrefutable prove of cocaine smoking. Our study shows that for the interpretation of AEME results in hair, potential heat treatment of hair should be considered. A ratio BZE/COC higher 1 appears to be a good marker to identify thermal treatment of hair before collection. Finally, thermal straightening should be documented during hair collection and should also be considered for the interpretation of COC results in hair.

Spontaneous pneumothorax in cocaine users.

BACKGROUND: Pneumothorax is one of the respiratory toxic effects of cocaine inhalation. The literature counts several cases, some associated to other respiratory conditions such as pneumomediastinum, haemoptysis and others not requiring surgical treatment. AIM: We present a series of nonHIV cocaine-inhaler subjects who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for isolated spontaneous pneumothorax. DESIGN: Nine subjects, with a mean age of 24 ± 4 years, admitting cocaine inhalation, developed spontaneous pneumothorax and underwent 10 surgical treatments by means of VATS, at our Institution. RESULTS: Previous pneumothorax occurred in six cases episodes ranged from 0 to 5 (mean 1.6 ± 1.6). Chest computed tomography (CT) scan showed abnormalities in seven cases. All subjects underwent lung apicectomy, apical pleurectomy and mechanical pleurodesis. Seven subjects had also bullectomy. In all cases the visceral pleura was partially covered by fibrinous exudate. Histology of the lung showed small foreign body granulomatous inflammation in fibrotic and/or emphysematous pulmonary parenchyma. Relapse of pneumothorax occurred in one subject at 60 days and it was surgically treated. Mean follow-up was 150 ± 38 months (range 120-239). All subjects are now well, with no evidence of pneumothorax. CONCLUSIONS: Spontaneous pneumothorax in cocaine-inhaler subjects is a reality of which physicians need to be aware. Chest CT scan might not reveal abnormalities. Macroscopically the lung might presents bullae and/or peculiar visceral pleura. Foreign body granulomas observed in the specimens suggest that the particulate component of inhaled substances can injure the lung. Surgical treatment of the bullous disease and mechanical pleurodesis can provide a long-term follow-up without relapse of pneumothorax.

Spectrum of acute kidney injury associated with cocaine use: report of three cases.

BACKGROUND: The consequences of cocaine use are multisystemic, such as, for instance, renal failure, hepatotoxicity and pulmonary toxicity, with renal alterations being the focus of the present study. The use of substances that modify the base composition of cocaine (or adulterants) aiming to potentiate its effects also has an impact on these manifestations. The present study aims to report three cases with different diagnosis of acute kidney injury related to cocaine use. CASE PRESENTATION: Case 01 - A 30-year-old female patient, who regularly used cocaine, started to have lower-limb edema, which showed a progressive and ascending evolution, affecting the face a few days later, associated with an isolated febrile episode and oligoanuria. The presence of cytoplasmic antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (C-ANCA) was verified: reactive 1:80, with renal biopsy compatible with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN). Case 02 - A 34-year-old female patient, with difficult-to-control hypertension and a frequent user of cocaine, showed generalized sudden edema together with diffuse and progressive pruritus associated with oliguria, fever, nausea, and vomiting. Schistocyte screening was positive, with negative direct Coombs test, and negative serologies for hepatitis B, C and HIV, as well as negative anti-double-stranded DNA, Anti-SSA and Anti-SSB. The renal biopsy was compatible with thrombotic microangiopathy, associated with moderate interstitial fibrosis and acute tubular necrosis Case 03 - A 25-year-old male patient who had been a cocaine user for 5 years had a sudden onset of generalized disabling myalgia (especially in the lower limbs) associated with recent frontotemporal headache, palpitation, dizziness, and a non-measured febrile episode; the patient had used cocaine at the night before symptom onset. CPK was 1731 U/L.The final probable diagnosis was AKI secondary to cocaine-induced rhabdomyolysis. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion basically, 05 etiologies of acute kidney injury should always be remembered: rhabdomyolysis, thrombotic microangiopathy, vasculitis, acute interstitial nephritis and renal infarction. Emphasis should be given to rhabdomyolysis due to its higher prevalence. Considering the increasing rates of cocaine use, especially with the use of adulterating substances, these pathologies will likely be increasingly prevalent.

Drug-induced paraspinal myositis mimicking acute bilateral sciatica.

Although cocaine induced myopathy and myotoxicity are described in the literature, we report a rare case of cocaine induced paraspinal myositis presenting with acute sciatic symptoms. A 35-year-old man presented with acute left-sided sciatica and was discharged from the emergency department (ED). He subsequently attended ED the following day in severe pain and bilateral sciatic symptoms, but denied symptoms of neurogenic bowel/bladder disturbance. Clinical examination was limited by severe pain: focal midline lumbar tenderness was elicited on palpation, per rectal and limb examinations were within normal limits with no significant neurological deficit. He was admitted for observation and pain management. His blood tests revealed a leucocyte count of 21.5×109/L, C reactive protein of 89 mg/L and deranged renal function with creatinine of 293 µmol/L. An urgent lumbar spine MRI was arranged to rule out a discitis or epidural abscess. Lumbar MRI did not demonstrate any features of discitis but non-specific appearances of paraspinal inflammation raised the suspicion of a paraspinal myositis. Creatinekinase (CK) was found to be 66329 IU/L and a detailed history revealed he was a cocaine user. Paraspinal muscle biopsy confirmed histological features compatible with myositis. Other serological tests were negative, including anti-GBM, ANCA, ANA, Rheumatoid factor, Hep B, Hep C, myositis specific ENA, Treponema pallidum, Borrelia burgdorferi, Rickettsia, Leptospira, EBV and CMV. There was good clinical response to treatment with prednisolone 20 mg OD with an improvement in renal function, CK levels and CRP. He had resumed normal activities and return to work at 6-week follow-up. A detailed social history including substance misuse is important in patients presenting to the ED-especially in cases of severe musculoskeletal pain with no obvious localising features. Drug induced myotoxicity, although rare, can result in symptomatic patients with severe renal failure.

Cocaine use is associated with worse outcomes in patients treated with thoracic endovascular repair for type B aortic dissection.

OBJECTIVE: To describe and compare the clinical and anatomical characteristics and outcomes of patients with and without known cocaine use who underwent thoracic endovascular repair for type B aortic dissections. METHODS: Between January 2012 and January 2017, 186 patients underwent thoracic endovascular repair for type B aortic dissection at our institution. Clinical data and anatomical characteristics were collected under an institutional review board-approved protocol. Survival, reintervention, complications, and characteristics of dissection were compared between patients with cocaine use (C+; n = 14) and those with no known cocaine use (C-; n = 172). RESULTS: Cocaine users were more likely to be young African American males who smoked. They tended to present with more extensive dissections as evidenced by larger false lumen diameters. They also had higher rates of endoleaks and more reinterventions. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that special care should be taken to provide close follow-up for these patients.