Renal infarction associated with intravenous cocaine use

The use of illicit cocaine continues to grow. This report is a documented case of renal infarction from intravenous cocaine use. The authors postulate that increased adrenergic stimulation from the intravenous cocaine, in association with an existing arterial thrombus, led to end organ infarction. This resulted in transient hypertension, but no long-term morbidity. The implications of this report extend to all patients with underlying arterial disease who use cocaine illicitly. Physicians and health professionals should be aware of this danger from intravenous cocaine usage.