A person who abuses drugs may develop stroke or other cerebrovascular disease.
Types of cerebrovascular disease in a drug abuser:
(1) intracranial hemorrhage, hemorrhagic stroke
(2) ischemic stroke
(3) embolic injury
(4) subarachnoid hemorrhage
Mechanisms of injury:
(1) hypertension
(2) cardiac emboli (endocarditis, cardiac arrhythmias, cardiomyopathy)
(3) foreign material emboli from injected material
(4) vasospasm
(5) vasculitis
(6) vasculopathy including direct toxic injury
Drugs associated with cerebrovascular disease may include:
(1) amphetamines, methamphetamines
(2) cocaine
(3) heroin and other injected opiates
(4) methylphenidate (Ritalin)
(5) phencyclidine (PCP)
(6) any injected drug
Differential diagnosis:
(1) HIV disease
(2) intracerebral infection
(3) malignant lymphoma or metastatic cancer
