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Central nervous system complications of addiction to "T's and Blues"

Department of Neurology and Pathology (Drs. Caplan and Thomas), Michael Reese Hospital and Billings Hospital, and the University of Chicago, (Dr. Banks) Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, IL.

Thirteen patients displayed neurologic complications of intravenous abuse of "T's and Blues" (pentazocine and tripelennamine). In six, the major presentation was seizures. Three patients had strokes, and three had CNS infections, two fungal and one related to subacute bacterial endocarditis. One patient had hepatic failure and an unusual encephalopathy. Foreign body embolization is common; the materials enter the cerebral circulation because of pulmonary arteriovenous shunts. Emboli may cause seizures, which also occur as a toxic effect of the drugs. Infection is due to unsterile injections. Enzyme elevations and diffuse vasculopathy raise the possibility of immune mechanisms.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Caplan, Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center, Department of Neurology, 2900 South Ellis Avenue, Chicago, IL 60616.

Accepted for publication October 28, 1981.