RESUMEN
A patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and chronic obstructive lung disease was admitted with respiratory failure due to a massive pleural effusion. An extensive evaluation proved the effusion to be of rheumatoid origin. The effusion resolved with prednisone and penicillamine therapy. Although pleural effusions associated with RA are common, massive effusions are rare and respiratory failure from a rheumatoid pleural effusion has not been reported.
Asunto(s)
Artritis Reumatoide/complicaciones , Derrame Pleural/complicaciones , Insuficiencia Respiratoria/etiología , Humanos , Enfermedades Pulmonares Obstructivas/complicaciones , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Derrame Pleural/diagnóstico por imagen , Radiografía TorácicaRESUMEN
A case of cerebral vasculitis in a previously healthy 22-year-old man with a history of cocaine abuse is described. Cerebral angiograms showed evidence of vasculitis. A search for possible causes other than cocaine produced no results. We now include cocaine with methamphetamines, heroin, and ephedrine as illicit drugs that can cause cerebral vasculitis.