[Patho-anatomic changes in a narcotic addict]

The pathoanatomical analyses made on biopsy specimens of organs of a woman with a several year history of drug abuse who died suddenly because of drug intoxication is presented. Characteristic pathological findings such as scars on the forearm arranged in a series along the vein as well as fresh needle marks in the cubital region suggesting intravenous drug use are described. Birefringent talc crystals as a positive sign of drug addiction were found in macrophages of the lungs, liver, spleen and kidneys. In the lungs, they were present perivasculary within the foreign-body granulomas, in the liver, within the Kupffer's cells and macrophages of the porta hepatis, in the spleen, in macrophages around the folliculi and in the kidneys within the endothelial cells of glomerular loops. The liver showed chronic viral hepatitis as well. As a sign of an acute drug intoxication, the so-called "drug addict's lung" was observed and the brain showed a pronounced edema and perivascular bleeding. The mentioned acute pathological changes demonstrate that the sudden death was most probably caused by drug intoxication and this has been confirmed by toxicological analysis. In summary, the value of the necroscopy and histological analysis of organs, particularly by using a polarizing microscope, in detecting pathological changes caused by drug addiction and, thus, the need for pathoanatomical analysis of all drug addicts who expired and young persons who died by a sudden death of unknown origin is emphasized.