CENTRAL-NERVOUS-SYSTEM ANGIOPATHY ASSOCIATED WITH COCAINE ABUSE

Cocaine abuse has been associated with various cerebrovascular complic ations, including vasculitis. We describe a patient who presented with neurologic defects associated with cocaine abuse. Although angiograph y raised the suggestion of vasculitis, biopsy revealed a lack of infla mmatory changes, and other aspects of the clinical course also militat ed against inflammatory vasculitis. This case was reminiscent of recen tly described patients initially suspected of having primary central n ervous system (CNS) vasculitis but subsequently considered to have ''b enign angiopathy.'' We suggest that benign angiopathy of the CNS can o ccur as a result of cocaine abuse.