DRUG INJECTION IN JUGULAR VEINS - A NEW RISK FACTOR FOR VASCULAR DISEASES IN HIV-INFECTED

The authors describe a rare case of diffused thrombosis of the superfi cial veins in the whole body and periphlebitis with perivascular absce sses in an human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected drug abuser who was using neck veins to inject cocaine and heroin. In addition the pa tient presented oral candidiasis, hepatitis C virus infection, broncho pneumonitis, and endocarditis of the tricuspid valve with valvular fai lure. The conditions of the patient needed repeated vascular catheteri zations for therapy administration. Similar pathologies, in HIV-infect ed patients, highly increase the risk of opportunistic infections, esp ecially in the encephalic territory; in addition the need for vascular catheterizations represents a further risk factor for bacterial infec tions.