Heroin induced acute myelopathy, rhabdomyolysis and chronic globus pallidus ischemia: Uncommon complications of heroin abuse

Abstract

Heroin or diacetylmorphine is widely consumed illegal opioid. Neurological manifestations of heroin include Spongiform lekoencephalopathy, ischemia, botulism, myelopathy, neuropathy and cerebral atrophy. Heroin myelopathy is a very rare manifestation seen in relation to first episode of heroin usage or following consumption after a period of abstinence. Neurovascular ischemia is the most common complication involving Globus pallidus, periventricular and subcortical regions. We describe a rare case of acute myelopathy, rhabdomyolysis and Globus pallidus ischemia in a chronic heroin user.