COCAINE-INDUCED THROMBOSIS OF COMMON ILIAC AND POPLITEAL ARTERIES

Cocaine-induced thrombosis has been reported in the literature; howeve r, its mechanism is not fully understood. Most cases are of small cali ber vessels, such as the coronaries and cerebral vasculature. We repor t a case of a 36-year-old man with signs and symptoms of acute arteria l insufficiency in his right lower extremity. At angiography, the righ t common iliac artery and the popliteal artery were occluded. The pati ent was successfully treated with thrombolytic therapy. Cocaine-induce d thrombosis should be suspected in a patient with history of cocaine abuse who presents with acute arterial insufficiency in an extremity, without an identifiable source.