Microangiopathic Hemolytic Anemia

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Abstract
THE intravenous abuse of drugs intended for oral use can lead to a diverse spectrum of medical complications.1Some of these complications are caused not by the drug itself, but rather by the concomitant injection of tablet filler, nonsterile diluents, or materials acquired while filtering tablet contents. A patient with a long history of intravenous use of crushed barbiturate tablets was first seen with pulmonary hypertension. He subsequently developed a microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (MAHA). Report of a Case A 32-year-old white man was admitted to Harbor General Hospital (Torrance, Calif) in March 1972 with hematemesis, shortness of breath, and confusion of several days' duration. He admitted to the abuse of many drugs taken orally, as well as the intravenous use of heroin, amphetamines, and crushed barbiturate tablets that he strained through cotton or cigarette filters. The results of physical examination were normal except for an increased pulmonic component of

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