Acute pulmonary toxicity from crack cocaine
Background
- Also known as "crack lung"
- Due to hemorrhagic alveolitis from inhalational crack cocaine use [1]
- Crack cocaine vaporizes at 187°C[2]
Clinical Features
- Characterized by dyspnea and hypoxia after crack cocaine use[2]
- May also see:
- Fever
- Hemoptysis
- Respiratory failure
- Pulmonary edema
Differential Diagnosis
- Acute eosinophilic pneumonia
- Acute respiratory distress syndrome
- Pulmonary embolism
- Congestive heart failure
- Pneumonia
- Acute coronary syndrome
- Pneumothorax
- Subcutaneous emphysema/pneumomediastinum
Evaluation
- Generally a clinical diagnosis
- Consider CXR and labs
- May have eosinophilia, which suggests an immune mediated component[3]
Management
- Supportive care
- Systemic corticosteroids[2]
Disposition
- Admit
See Also
External Links
References
- ↑ Forrester JM. Crack lung: an acute pulmonary syndrome with a spectrum of clinical and histopathologic findings. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1990;142(2):462-7.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Devlin RJ, Henry JA. Clinical review: Major consequences of illicit drug consumption. Critical Care. 2008;12(1):202. doi:10.1186/cc6166.
- ↑ Kissner DG.Crack lung: pulmonary disease caused by cocaine abuse. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1987;136(5):1250-2.