Cocaine-Induced Peripheral Vascular Occlusive Disease A Case Report

• Published in: Angiology Vol. 49; no. 3; pp. 221 - 224
• Main Authors: England, John D., Krupski, William C., Gutierrez, Amparo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thousand Oaks, CA SAGE Publications 01.03.1998; Westminster; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Adult; Angiography; Biological and medical sciences; Crack Cocaine - adverse effects; Drug addictions; Electromyography; Female; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Neurologic Examination; Peripheral Vascular Diseases - chemically induced; Peripheral Vascular Diseases - diagnosis; Toxicology; Arterial disease; Vascular disease; Case study; Human; Toxicology; Radiodiagnosis; Angiography; Cardiovascular disease; Occlusive arterial disease; Complication; Cocaine
• ISSN: 0003-3197; 1940-1574
• DOI: 10.1177/000331979804900308

Two patients with cocaine-induced peripheral vascular occlusive disease are presented. A 37-year-old man was admitted to the hospital for evaluation of severe pain and numbness of his feet. He had used cocaine prior to admission. Arteriography showed bilateral occlusions of superficial femoral, popliteal, and trifucation arteries. Despite repeated infusions of urokinase, he developed progressive bilateral gangrene of both legs necessitating bilateral below-knee amputations. The second patient developed similar symptoms after smoking cocaine. Arteriography showed vasospasm bilaterally from the iliac arteries distally. IV nitroglycerin infusion caused resolution of the vasospasm and ischemic symptoms.