São relatados os casos de dois pacientes sofredores de dores crônicas (um com gota e outro com lombalgia), que desenvolveram o vício pelo dextro-propo-xifeno, administrado por via intramuscular. Isto determinou alterações importantes na musculatura onde eram aplicado as injeções, com endurecimento da pele, edema e diminuição da mobilidade do membro afetado. A investigação revelou miopatia crônica, com intensa fibrose do tecido conjuntivo perimisial e endomisial, com infiltração por células linfomonocitárias; havia também atrofia de fibras musculares nas regiões próximas e fibrose com atividade muito aumentada para a fosfatase alcalina no local das lesões. Eletromiografia em um dos casos sugeria denervação e, no outro, envolvimento muscular primário. A retirada da medicação determinou regressão dos sintomas e sinais, mas o retorno de ambos os pacientes ao hábito, fêz recrudescer o processo. São discutidos os achados clínico-patológicos comparando com outras medicação e agressões físicas que acometendo o tecido muscular, acabam levando o musculo à fibrose. Possivelmente as injeções intramusculares repetidas, a irritação pelo cloridrato de dextro-propoxifeno e a redução da drenagem linfática sejam as causas dos sintomas e alterações patológicas.
The cases of a 43 years old-man with gout and a 24 years-old woman with severe back pain who developed dextro-propoxyphene addiction during pain treatment are reported. They had severe edema and fibrosis of skin, subcutaneous tissue and muscle involving the upper and lower limbs. ESR was elevated, CPK and LDH were normal. EMG in proximal muscles showed decreased duration and voltage of potentials, excess of short polyphasics and increased recruitmente (BSAP), with positive waves and fibrilations; distal muscles had fasciculations, fibrilations, positive waves, normal voluntary potentials, decreased recruitment. Limphography indicate delayed progression of contrst media and obstruction in the thighs. Muscle biopsy on fresh-frozen section and histochemistry showed extensive connective tissue proliferation with intense acid and alkaline phosphatase activity in the perimisial and endomisial area, infiltration of limphocytes near and around small vessels and capilaries. There was perifascicular and type II fiber atrophy. After discharge the patients returned to propoxyphene addiction and the symptons who subsided during drug withdrawl como back again. New admission, new drug withdrawl and they were discharged free of symptoms. Possibly the repeated needles trauma, irritation by the propoxyphene and impairment of lymphatics drainage were the cause of symptoms and pathologic changes.