@article{ref1,
title=""Chasing the dragon": a fatal case report of toxic leucoencéphalopathie due to inhaled heroin",
journal="Revista Colombiana de Psiquiatría",
year="2020",
author="Ochoa-Orozco, Sergio Andrés and Gutiérrez-Segura, Julio César and Coral-Leiton, Ana María and Trejos-Orozco, Efraín Alberto and Gutiérrez-Sanjuán, Óscar Iván and Carvajal-Guevara, Julián David",
volume="49",
number="4",
pages="289-292",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Leukoencephalopathy is a myelin disorder caused by multiple agents, including substance abuse.   CASE: A 28-year-old man arrived at the emergency department having suffered from asthenia, dizziness, disorientation and ataxia for two months. He had a two-year history of heroin inhalation. He arrived in a normal physical condition. Brain magnetic resonance showed bilateral diffuse hypointense lesions in the white matter. At day 3 after admission, he presented neurological deterioration, stupor, haemodynamic instability, respiratory failure, and died.   DISCUSSION: Toxic leukoencephalopathy symptoms start with inattention, memory and personality changes, and may eventually cause dementia and death. Heroin inhalation is a common practice and can lead to leukoencephalopathy.   CONCLUSIONS: Leukoencephalopathy associated with heroin inhalation is a rare entity that mainly affects young adults and has a high social impact. Its aetiology is unclear, it has no effective treatment and there is a high mortality rate. Heroin consumption is on the rise in Colombia, so TL should be considered by medical staff.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0034-7450",
doi="10.1016/j.rcp.2019.06.003",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rcp.2019.06.003"
}