Crack lung - a case report

Introduction. Crack cocaine (CC), a potent form of cocaine, is well-known for its rapid and intense effects on the central nervous system. Its detrimental impact on the respiratory system is often disregarded. This type of cocaine originates from cocaine hydrochloride, a compound extracted from the...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Vasiljević Mira, Šarac Sanja, Milić Rade, Lazović-Popović Biljana
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia, University of Defence, Belgrade 2025-01-01
Series:Vojnosanitetski Pregled
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0042-8450/2025/0042-84502500011V.pdf
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849700378630684672
author Vasiljević Mira
Šarac Sanja
Milić Rade
Lazović-Popović Biljana
author_facet Vasiljević Mira
Šarac Sanja
Milić Rade
Lazović-Popović Biljana
author_sort Vasiljević Mira
collection DOAJ
description Introduction. Crack cocaine (CC), a potent form of cocaine, is well-known for its rapid and intense effects on the central nervous system. Its detrimental impact on the respiratory system is often disregarded. This type of cocaine originates from cocaine hydrochloride, a compound extracted from the leaves of the coca plant (Erythroxylum coca). Through various pathophysiological mechanisms, its pharmacokinetics and interaction with the respiratory sys-tem contribute to acute and chronic lung damage. Case report. We present a 35-year-old male with progressive dyspnea and chronic lung damage caused by long-term abuse of CC. Morphological changes in the lungs along with abnormalities in pulmonary function tests were also observed. The patient was treated with a combination of medication therapy and enrolled in a detoxification support program. The applied therapeutic measures led to a gradual reduction in symptoms and significant improvement in pulmonary function tests. Conclusion. CC-induced lung damage represents a clinical challenge with profound implications for patient health and well-being. Substance abuse counseling, relapse prevention strategies, and social support services are key components of comprehensive treatment to support patient recovery and prevent relapse.
format Article
id doaj-art-66c8f3aa847142f481bd1ed5f1e6be86
institution DOAJ
issn 0042-8450
2406-0720
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia, University of Defence, Belgrade
record_format Article
series Vojnosanitetski Pregled
spelling doaj-art-66c8f3aa847142f481bd1ed5f1e6be862025-08-20T03:18:18ZengMinistry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia, University of Defence, BelgradeVojnosanitetski Pregled0042-84502406-07202025-01-0182318719110.2298/VSP240606011V0042-84502500011VCrack lung - a case reportVasiljević Mira0Šarac Sanja1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1812-4215Milić Rade2Lazović-Popović Biljana3Military Medical Academy, Clinic for Pulmonology, Belgrade, SerbiaMilitary Medical Academy, Clinic for Pulmonology, Belgrade, Serbia + University of Defence, Faculty of Medicine of the Military Medical Academy, Belgrade, SerbiaMilitary Medical Academy, Clinic for Pulmonology, Belgrade, Serbia + University of Defence, Faculty of Medicine of the Military Medical Academy, Belgrade, SerbiaUniversity Clinical Hospital Center “Zemun”, Belgrade, SerbiaIntroduction. Crack cocaine (CC), a potent form of cocaine, is well-known for its rapid and intense effects on the central nervous system. Its detrimental impact on the respiratory system is often disregarded. This type of cocaine originates from cocaine hydrochloride, a compound extracted from the leaves of the coca plant (Erythroxylum coca). Through various pathophysiological mechanisms, its pharmacokinetics and interaction with the respiratory sys-tem contribute to acute and chronic lung damage. Case report. We present a 35-year-old male with progressive dyspnea and chronic lung damage caused by long-term abuse of CC. Morphological changes in the lungs along with abnormalities in pulmonary function tests were also observed. The patient was treated with a combination of medication therapy and enrolled in a detoxification support program. The applied therapeutic measures led to a gradual reduction in symptoms and significant improvement in pulmonary function tests. Conclusion. CC-induced lung damage represents a clinical challenge with profound implications for patient health and well-being. Substance abuse counseling, relapse prevention strategies, and social support services are key components of comprehensive treatment to support patient recovery and prevent relapse.https://doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0042-8450/2025/0042-84502500011V.pdfcocainediagnosislung diseasessubstance-related disorderstherapeutics
spellingShingle Vasiljević Mira
Šarac Sanja
Milić Rade
Lazović-Popović Biljana
Crack lung - a case report
Vojnosanitetski Pregled
cocaine
diagnosis
lung diseases
substance-related disorders
therapeutics
title Crack lung - a case report
title_full Crack lung - a case report
title_fullStr Crack lung - a case report
title_full_unstemmed Crack lung - a case report
title_short Crack lung - a case report
title_sort crack lung a case report
topic cocaine
diagnosis
lung diseases
substance-related disorders
therapeutics
url https://doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0042-8450/2025/0042-84502500011V.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT vasiljevicmira cracklungacasereport
AT saracsanja cracklungacasereport
AT milicrade cracklungacasereport
AT lazovicpopovicbiljana cracklungacasereport