Puffy hand syndrome due to drug addiction: a case-control study of the pathogenesis.

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Bibliographic Details
Title:	Puffy hand syndrome due to drug addiction: a case-control study of the pathogenesis.
Authors:	Andresz V (AUTHOR), Marcantoni N (AUTHOR), Binder F (AUTHOR), Velten M (AUTHOR), Alt M (AUTHOR), Weber J (AUTHOR), Stephan D (AUTHOR)
Source:	Addiction. Sep2006, Vol. 101 Issue 9, p1347-1351. 5p.
Abstract:	AIM: We studied the pathogenesis of puffy hand syndrome of intravenous drug use. We hypothesized that injections of high-dose sublingual buprenorphine, instead of the recommended sublingual administration, could play an important role in lymphatic obstruction and destruction. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: We set up a case-control study in substitution centres, recruiting intravenous drug addicts with and without puffy hands, respectively. The subjects were asked to answer anonymously a questionnaire of 40 items comprising social and demographic status, history of illicit drugs use, buprenorphine misuse and injection practices. FINDINGS: We included 33 cases and 33 controls, mean age of 34 years. They were past heroin users, mainly methadone-substituted. In multivariate analysis, sex (women) (OR = 8.9, P = 0.03), injections in the hands (OR = 5.9, P = 0.03), injections in the feet (OR = 6.5, P = 0.01) and the absence of tourniquet (OR = 7.0, p = 0.02) were significant risk factors for puffy hand syndrome. In 69.7% of the cases and 59.4% of the controls, respectively, there was a high-dose sublingual buprenorphine misuse, although it appeared not to be a significant risk factor for puffy hand syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Injection practices are likely to cause puffy hands syndrome, but buprenorphine misuse should not be considered as a significant risk factor. However, intravenous drug users must still be warned of local and systemic complications of intravenous drug misuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database:	Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection

Description
Abstract:	AIM: We studied the pathogenesis of puffy hand syndrome of intravenous drug use. We hypothesized that injections of high-dose sublingual buprenorphine, instead of the recommended sublingual administration, could play an important role in lymphatic obstruction and destruction. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: We set up a case-control study in substitution centres, recruiting intravenous drug addicts with and without puffy hands, respectively. The subjects were asked to answer anonymously a questionnaire of 40 items comprising social and demographic status, history of illicit drugs use, buprenorphine misuse and injection practices. FINDINGS: We included 33 cases and 33 controls, mean age of 34 years. They were past heroin users, mainly methadone-substituted. In multivariate analysis, sex (women) (OR = 8.9, P = 0.03), injections in the hands (OR = 5.9, P = 0.03), injections in the feet (OR = 6.5, P = 0.01) and the absence of tourniquet (OR = 7.0, p = 0.02) were significant risk factors for puffy hand syndrome. In 69.7% of the cases and 59.4% of the controls, respectively, there was a high-dose sublingual buprenorphine misuse, although it appeared not to be a significant risk factor for puffy hand syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Injection practices are likely to cause puffy hands syndrome, but buprenorphine misuse should not be considered as a significant risk factor. However, intravenous drug users must still be warned of local and systemic complications of intravenous drug misuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:	09652140
DOI:	10.1111/j.1360-0443.2006.01521.x