COCAINE-INDUCED PERIPHERAL VASCULAR OCCLUSIVE DISEASE - A CASE-REPORT

Two patients with cocaine-induced peripheral vascular occlusive diseas e are presented. A 37-year-old man was admitted to the hospital for ev aluation of severe pain and numbness of his feet. He had used cocaine prior to admission. Arteriography showed bilateral occlusions of super ficial 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. Arteriograph y showed vasospasm bilaterally from the iliac arteries distally. IV ni troglycerin infusion caused resolution of the vasospasm and ischemic s ymptoms.