MR Findings of Alprazolam Injection into the Femoral Artery with Microembolization and Rhabdomyolysis

Intravenous drug abuse unfortunately remains an extremely common problem worldwide, accounting for innumerable medical issues ranging from the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other blood-borne diseases to skin necrosis to vasculitis to death [1]. We present a case of intra-arterial injection of alprazolam into the right femoral artery resulting in microembolization, acute ischemia and rhabdomyolysis of the thigh, as documented by magnetic resonance (MR) and laboratory findings.