Necrotizing Angiitis in a Methamphetamine User with Hepatitis B — Angiographic Diagnosis, Five-Month Follow-up Results and Localization of Bleeding Site

Abstract

THE vascular changes of necrotizing angiitis have been demonstrated angiographically in a number of drug users, and the disorder has been putatively linked to methamphetamine sensitivity.^{1 , 2} Acute polyarteritis has also been reported, in the absence of drug use, in some patients with hepatitis B or circulating hepatitis B antigen (HB Ag).^{3 4 5 6} In the following case angiographically and histologically confirmed necrotizing angiitis co-existed in a methamphetamine user with hepatitis B who was restudied angiographically five months later and in whom catastrophic hemorrhage from a renal-artery aneurysm was demonstrated by selective arteriography.Case ReportA 24-year-old methamphetamine and heroin user was admitted . . .