• Terra FilhoMárioMDivision of Pulmonary Diseases, Instituto do Coração and Laboratório de Investigação Médica (LIM-40), Department of Legal Medicine, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil. pnemario@incor.usp.br, Chen Chin Yen, SantosUbiratan de PaulaUde P, and Daniel Romero Muñoz.
• Division of Pulmonary Diseases, Instituto do Coração and Laboratório de Investigação Médica (LIM-40), Department of Legal Medicine, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil. pnemario@incor.usp.br
• Sao Paulo Med J. 2004 Jan 8; 122 (1): 263126-31.

ContextBrazilian researchers have recently recognized a marked increase in the number of people using abusable drugs and the consequences of this habit. It has become a major public health problem in a potentially productive segment of the general population. In the last few years, several medical articles have given special emphasis to pulmonary complications related to cocaine use. This review is based on this information and experience acquired with groups of cocaine users.ObjectiveTo present to physicians the pulmonary aspects of cocaine use and warn about the various effects this drug has on the respiratory system, stressing those related to long-term use.DesignNarrative review.MethodPulmonary complications are described. These may include infections (Staphylococcus aureus, pulmonary tuberculosis, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome/aids, etc.), aspiration pneumonia, lung abscess, empyema, septic embolism, non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema, barotrauma, pulmonary granulomotosis, branchiolitis obliterans and organizing pneumonia, pneumonitis and interstitial fibrosis, pneumonitis hypersensitivity, lung infiltrates and eosinophilia in individuals with branchial hyperreactivity, diffuse alveolar hemorrhage, vasculitis, pulmonary infarction, pulmonary hypertension and alterations in gas exchange. It is concluded that physicians should give special attention to the various pulmonary and clinical manifestations related to cocaine use, particularly in young patients.

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