Amyloidosis secondary to drug abuse and chronic skin suppuration.

Amyloidosis has not been included in the wide spectrum of medical complications associated with drug abuse. Chronic visceral infection is a recognized cause of amyloidosis, but chronic suppuration of the skin is not a well-appreciated cause of this condition. Furthermore, to our knowledge, chronic skin suppuration secondary to parenteral drug abuse has not been reported as a cause for systemic amyloidosis. We report a case in which subcutaneous injections of narcotic tablets led to chronic skin suppuration and systemic amyloidosis.