Toxic leukoencephalopathy due to inhalational heroin abuse
Heroin-induced spongiform leukoencephalopathy (HSLE) is a rare condition that is strongly associated with heroin vapor inhalation which has become a popular method among heroin addicts because it poses a less immediate danger to the user and makes the drug much easier to use. We present a case of a...
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Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2020-01-01
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doaj-c469def560204f7890f59078ba7264582020-11-25T03:18:30ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsAnnals of Indian Academy of Neurology0972-23271998-35492020-01-0123454254410.4103/aian.AIAN_446_18Toxic leukoencephalopathy due to inhalational heroin abuseSamir KashyapGohar MajeedIra BowenYancey BeamerDan MiulliHeroin-induced spongiform leukoencephalopathy (HSLE) is a rare condition that is strongly associated with heroin vapor inhalation which has become a popular method among heroin addicts because it poses a less immediate danger to the user and makes the drug much easier to use. We present a case of a 22-year-old male who presented with dysarthria and cerebellar symptoms starting, after 3 months of heroin inhalation. Diagnosis was confirmed to be HSLE after extensive diagnostic testing. HSLE is a rare complication of which the pathogenesis is poorly understood. Clinical history and characteristic findings on magnetic resonance imaging (diffuse, symmetric T2-hyperintensity, and diffusion restriction in frontal, parietal, occipital lobs, basal ganglia, and superior cerebellum) are diagnostic; however, care should be taken to exclude other etiologies. Treatment is primarily supportive; however, there is anecdotal evidence that coenzyme Q10 may be of benefit. The growing number of victims of the opioid crisis requires that physicians be aware of and counsel patients on the devastating neurological complications that can occur with abuse of these drugs.http://www.annalsofian.org/article.asp?issn=0972-2327;year=2020;volume=23;issue=4;spage=542;epage=544;aulast=Kashyapdrug abuseencephalopathyheroin |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Samir Kashyap Gohar Majeed Ira Bowen Yancey Beamer Dan Miulli |
spellingShingle |
Samir Kashyap Gohar Majeed Ira Bowen Yancey Beamer Dan Miulli Toxic leukoencephalopathy due to inhalational heroin abuse Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology drug abuse encephalopathy heroin |
author_facet |
Samir Kashyap Gohar Majeed Ira Bowen Yancey Beamer Dan Miulli |
author_sort |
Samir Kashyap |
title |
Toxic leukoencephalopathy due to inhalational heroin abuse |
title_short |
Toxic leukoencephalopathy due to inhalational heroin abuse |
title_full |
Toxic leukoencephalopathy due to inhalational heroin abuse |
title_fullStr |
Toxic leukoencephalopathy due to inhalational heroin abuse |
title_full_unstemmed |
Toxic leukoencephalopathy due to inhalational heroin abuse |
title_sort |
toxic leukoencephalopathy due to inhalational heroin abuse |
publisher |
Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
series |
Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology |
issn |
0972-2327 1998-3549 |
publishDate |
2020-01-01 |
description |
Heroin-induced spongiform leukoencephalopathy (HSLE) is a rare condition that is strongly associated with heroin vapor inhalation which has become a popular method among heroin addicts because it poses a less immediate danger to the user and makes the drug much easier to use. We present a case of a 22-year-old male who presented with dysarthria and cerebellar symptoms starting, after 3 months of heroin inhalation. Diagnosis was confirmed to be HSLE after extensive diagnostic testing. HSLE is a rare complication of which the pathogenesis is poorly understood. Clinical history and characteristic findings on magnetic resonance imaging (diffuse, symmetric T2-hyperintensity, and diffusion restriction in frontal, parietal, occipital lobs, basal ganglia, and superior cerebellum) are diagnostic; however, care should be taken to exclude other etiologies. Treatment is primarily supportive; however, there is anecdotal evidence that coenzyme Q10 may be of benefit. The growing number of victims of the opioid crisis requires that physicians be aware of and counsel patients on the devastating neurological complications that can occur with abuse of these drugs. |
topic |
drug abuse encephalopathy heroin |
url |
http://www.annalsofian.org/article.asp?issn=0972-2327;year=2020;volume=23;issue=4;spage=542;epage=544;aulast=Kashyap |
work_keys_str_mv |
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