Brodifacoum-contaminated synthetic marijuana: clinical and radiologic manifestations of a public health outbreak causing life-threatening coagulopathy. Emerg Radiol 2018 Dec;25(6):715-718
Date
07/20/2018Pubmed ID
30022308DOI
10.1007/s10140-018-1628-5Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85050118409 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 12 CitationsAbstract
Synthetic marijuana is a dangerous substance due to its potency, ever-changing composition, and unpredictable side effects. Recently, brodifacoum-contaminated synthetic marijuana has led to multiple deaths and morbidity throughout the USA from severe coagulopathy associated with use of this strain of the drug (brodifacoum is a rodenticide and potent Vitamin K antagonist/anticoagulant). We describe the clinical and radiologic findings in two patients who were diagnosed with, and treated for, ingestion of this new strain of synthetic marijuana. The radiologic manifestations were most notable for hemorrhagic pyelitis/ureteritis. Both patients required hospitalization with Vitamin K supplementation. The radiologic and clinical pictures in these patients are important for radiologists to recognize in order to help guide appropriate patient management.
Author List
Panigrahi B, Jones BC, Rowe SPMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
4-HydroxycoumarinsAdult
Baltimore
Blood Coagulation Disorders
Cannabinoids
Diagnosis, Differential
Disease Outbreaks
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Poisoning
Rodenticides
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Vitamin K
