Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0034063 (pulmonary edema)
 10,665 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The incidence of acute, fatal narcotism in San Francisco was determined to be 3.2% of all deaths (10 882) subject to medical examiner's inquiry in a five-year period. Heroin was responsible for the greatest number of these cases, usually accompanied by alcohol or other abused drugs. The median concentration of the heroin metabolite, morphine, in the blood in fatal cases was 20 microgram/dL. Death from propoxyphene, the second most frequently encountered narcotic, was generally determined to be suicidal, while death from heroin was judged to be accidental. The highest rate occurred in black males between the ages of 21 and 30 years. The three most consistent findings were positive identification of the drug in the body (100% of the cases), pulmonary edema (90.4% of the cases), and microscopic liver changes (71.1% of the cases).
 ...
PMID:Analysis of fatalities from acute narcotism in a major urban area. 709 6

Heroin lung is the most frequent complication of heroin intoxication. In September 1991 and January 1993, two young men aged 19 and 22 years presented with a sudden loss of consciousness and cyanosis after injecting heroin. They were both brought to our emergency department in the night and were immediately intubated and given 100% oxygen. Following intravenous naloxone, they both regained consciousness. The first patient's chest X ray revealed increased bilateral perihilar lung markings and mild patchy alveolar edema while the second patient showed a bat's wing shaped confluent alveolar edema. The blood gases in both cases revealed hypoxemia and hypercapnia. Follow-up chest roentgenograms on the second hospital day in case 1 and the third hospital day in case 2 revealed partial clearing of the lung fields. Fever developed on the second hospital day and they both received two weeks of antibiotics prior to discharge. Case 1 had normal pulmonary function testing, but case 2 developed mild restrictive lung changes. Review of the literature shows that heroin can cause a fulminant but rapidly reversible form of pulmonary edema. The treatment for this noncardiogenic pulmonary edema is adequate ventilation, good pulmonary toilet, and naloxone to reverse the respiratory and central nervous system depression. Diuretics, digitalis and morphine are not recommended in the treatment of heroin lung.
 ...
PMID:Heroin lung: report of two cases. 791 90

Based on a case story and having examined the literature, we describe the incidence, symptoms, course, complications and treatment of the kind of pulmonary oedema that may arise in connection with acute heroin intoxication. A possible pathogenesis is also discussed. Heroin-induced pulmonary oedema is rather frequent and the mortality is high. It differs from cardiogenic pulmonary oedema at essential points. It is most likely due to an increased permeability of the lung capillaries. However, it is still unclarified whether this is caused by a toxic or an allergic reaction, or by hypoxia. The treatment is supportive, using a respirator and oxygen enriched breathing air until the hypoxia has been abolished, and support of the circulation with reasonable liquid supply and infusion of inotropic and vasoactive drugs.
 ...
PMID:[Heroin-induced pulmonary edema]. 825 8

Acute heroin overdose is a common daily experience in the urban and suburban United States and accounts for many preventable deaths. Heroin acts as a pro-drug that allows rapid and complete central nervous system absorption; this accounts for the drug's euphoric and toxic effects. The heroin overdose syndrome (sensitivity for diagnosing heroin overdose, 92%; specificity, 76%) consists of abnormal mental status, substantially decreased respiration, and miotic pupils. The response of naloxone does not improve the sensitivity of this diagnosis. Most overdoses occur at home in the company of others and are more common in the setting of other drugs. Heroin-related deaths are strongly associated with use of alcohol or other drugs. Patients with clinically significant respiratory compromise need treatment, which includes airway management and intravenous or subcutaneous naloxone. Hospital observation for several hours is necessary for recurrence of hypoventilation or other complications. About 3% to 7% of treated patients require hospital admission for pneumonia, noncardiogenic pulmonary edema, or other complications. Methadone maintenance is an effective preventive measure, and others strategies should be studied.
 ...
PMID:Acute heroin overdose. 1018 29

The abuse of alcohol is associated with chronic cardiomyopathy, hypertension, and arrhythmia. Abstinence or using alcohol in moderation can reverse these cardiovascular problems. Alcohol is also distinguished among the substances of abuse by having possible protective effects against coronary artery disease and stroke when used in moderate amounts. Amphetamines (eg, speed, ice, ecstasy) have many of the cardiovascular toxicities seen with cocaine, including acute and chronic cardiovascular diseases. Heroin and other opiates can cause arrhythmias and noncardiac pulmonary edema, and may reduce cardiac output. Cardiovascular problems are less common with cannabis (marijuana) than with opiates, but major cognitive disorders may be seen with its chronic use. It is still controversial whether caffeine can cause hypertension and coronary artery disease, and questions have been raised about its safety in patients with heart failure and arrhythmia.
 ...
PMID:Cardiovascular manifestations of substance abuse: part 2: alcohol, amphetamines, heroin, cannabis, and caffeine. 1287 59

Heroin use is associated with several well described respiratory complications, including noncardiogenic pulmonary edema, aspiration pneumonitis, acute respiratory distress syndrome,pneumonia, lung abscess, septic pulmonary emboli, and atelectasis. We describe an interesting case of a young female patient, an intravenous heroin user who presented with progressive dyspnea, hypoxia, and left lung consolidation.
 ...
PMID:Foreign body aspiration pneumonia in an intravenous drug user. 2241 82

In recent years, there has been a substantial increase in opioid use and abuse, and in opioid-related fatal overdoses. The increase in opioid use has resulted at least in part from individuals transitioning from prescribed opioids to heroin and fentanyl, which can cause significant respiratory depression that can progress to apnea and death. Heroin and fentanyl may be used individually, together, or in combination with other substances such as ethanol, benzodiazepines, or other drugs that can have additional deleterious effects on respiration. Suspicion that a death is drug-related begins with the decedent's medical and social history, and scene investigation, where drugs and drug paraphernalia may be encountered, and examination of the decedent, which may reveal needle punctures and needle track marks. At autopsy, the most significant internal finding that is reflective of opioid toxicity is pulmonary edema and congestion, and frothy watery fluid is often present in the airways. Various medical ailments such as heart and lung disease and obesity may limit an individual's physiologic reserve, rendering them more susceptible to the toxic effects of opioids and other drugs. Although many opioids will be detected on routine toxicology testing, more specialized testing may be warranted for opioid analogs, or other uncommon, synthetic, or semisynthetic drugs.
 ...
PMID:Opioid Toxicity. 3123 53