Cocaine Use and Splenic Rupture: A Rare Yet Serious Association

Sustained splenic contraction after daily cocaine administration in rats

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of repeated cocaine administration on the whole body of rats. Rats (male, 6 weeks old, Sprague Dawley) were injected intraperitoneally with cocaine (50 mg/kg) once a day for 1, 3 or 7 days, and major organs (heart, liver, lung, brain, kidney, spleen) were excised from the sacrificed animals. During autopsy, we found a reduction in spleen size, but not other organs, in cocaine-administered rats as compared to control rats. This reduction became to be noticed at 3 day and easily perceived at 7 day. No marked changes were observed in other organs examined. H&E and EMG staining showed a tendency for a decrease in the number of red blood cells (RBCs) as well as an increase in collagen fibers in the spleens of rats treated repeatedly with cocaine. Transcriptome analysis indicated that repeated cocaine administration depletes RBCs from the spleen. Immunoblot analysis showed that cocaine increases the phosphorylation of myosin light chain (MYL) as well as the levels of transgelin, both of which are involved in the contraction of myofibrils. Collectively, these results show that repeated cocaine administration results in sustained contraction of the spleen, which leads to the release of RBCs from the spleen into circulation.

Atraumatic splenic rupture after cocaine use and acute Epstein-Barr virus infection: A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND

Atraumatic splenic rupture (ASR) accounts for just over 3% of all cases of splenic rupture and is associated with a high mortality rate. The most common culprit is acute infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) but other documented aetiologies include neoplasia, other viral/bacterial infections, acute and chronic pancreatitis, amyloidosis and anticoagulant medications. There are four previous reports of cocaine-associated ASR but never before has it been documented in combination with concurrent acute EBV infection.

CASE SUMMARY

A 21-year-old man presented to hospital with acute left shoulder pain which radiated to the right shoulder and upper abdomen. He denied any history of recent trauma and had no relevant past medical history. He took no regular prescription medications but had used cocaine within the previous 24 h. Investigations revealed splenomegaly, a Grade 3 subcapsular splenic haematoma, moderate haemoperitoneum and an incidental 9 mm splenic artery pseudoaneurysm. There was also serological evidence of acute EBV infection. Prophylactic endovascular embolisation of the pseudoaneurysm was performed and the splenic rupture was managed non-operatively. The patient remained admitted in hospital for seven days and did not require any transfusion of blood products. Serial imaging showed complete resolution of the haemoperitoneum after 5 wk. The importance of abstinence from illicit drug use was emphasised to the patient but it is unknown whether or not he remains compliant.

CONCLUSION

This case demonstrates that ASR is a rare condition that can result from acute EBV infection and cocaine ingestion and requires a high index of suspicion to diagnose clinically.