Abstract
A 32-year-old man presented to the accident & emergency (A&E) department complaining of an inability to use his left arm and shoulder. The previous day he had injected heroin intravenously into his left antecubital vein. Examination revealed signs of a left-sided brachial plexus lesion. There was no history or sign of trauma. Neurological investigation revealed motor and sensory loss compatible with a complete brachial plexus lesion. He exhibited a very rare condition, asymmetrical atraumatic brachial plexopathy, thought to result from an inflammatory cause, which not only affects the brachial, but also other plexi or individual nerves in the body and thought to be related to repeated intravenous use of heroin. This is a condition for which there is no specific treatment but which usually resolves spontaneously in the absence of continuing heroin misuse.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Antonini G., Palmieri G., Millefiorini E., Spagnoli L. G., Millefiorini M. Lead poisoning during heroin addiction. Ital J Neurol Sci. 1989 Feb;10(1):105–108. doi: 10.1007/BF02333882. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Richter R. W., Baden M. M. Neurological complications of heroin addiction. Trans Am Neurol Assoc. 1969;94:330–332. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]