Cocaine colitis

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
An unusual case of colitis in a 37-year-old cocaine addict is described. The patient presented with right-sided abdominal pain and diarrhea exacerbated by his use of cocaine. Significant antibiotic ingestion was denied. At laparotomy, an edematous cecum and ascending colon were found, the cut surface of which revealed diffuse superficial ulcerations and yellowish fibrinous material. Microscopic examination demonstrated findings consistent with pseudomembranous colitis with an ischemic component. A mechanism involving chathecholamine-induced mucosal ischemia is postulated to explain the findings seen in this patient.

This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit: