PULMONARY-HYPERTENSION ASSOCIATED WITH LONG-TERM INHALATION OF CRANK METHAMPHETAMINE

We present the case of a 33-year-old white male truck driver with a te n-year history of 3.5-g/wk ''crank'' and ''peanut butter methamphetami ne'' inhalation (methamphetamine and propylhexedrine, respectively). T his patient developed marked pulmonary hypertension as a probable cons equence of abuse of these drugs. Proposed mechanisms of disease invoke toxic endothelial injury, hypoxic insult, direct spasm, vasculitis, a nd dysregulation of mediators of vascular tone. The possible role of g enetics is discussed in reference to variability of human response to sympathomimetic challenge.