Clinical Study

Intravascular Talcosis due to Intravenous Drug Use Is an Underrecognized Cause of Pulmonary Hypertension

Table 1

Demographics for cases of talc granulomatosis.

CaseSpecimenSexAge (years)Admitted IVDUHep CTobacco smokingPulmonary symptoms/diagnoses

1AutopsyM37YesNegativenoDyspnea
Pulmonary HTN
2AutopsyM40YesPositiveyes
3AutopsyM62Yes, remotePositiveno
4AutopsyM55Yes, remotePositiveyesIPF
Pulmonary HTN Recurrent pneumothoraces
5AutopsyF44YesPositiveyesCOPD
6Transbronchial biopsyM51Yes, remotePositiveyesDyspnea
Pulmonary HTN s/p R lung transplant for talc exposure*
7Pneumonectomy due to traumaM20NANANA
8Double lung transplant native lungsM53NoPositiveyesDyspnea
Mild pulmonary HTN
9Wedge resectionM31NoNAyesDyspnea
Pleuritic chest pain
Pulmonary HTN

*Initially diagnosed with talc pneumoconiosis.
Abbreviations: HTN: hypertension, IPF: idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, s/p: status post, NA: not available.