Muscle fibrosis and contractures in a pethidine addict.

Myopathy complicating intramuscular administration of some drugs is well recognized. The repeated intramuscular injection of chloroquine, for example, induces intense necrosis and phagocytosis at the injection site (Aguayo and Hudgson, 1970). Pethidine is usually injected intramuscularly, and it is perhaps surprising that there has been only one report of myopathy developing in those addicted to it (Aberfeld et al., 1968). We believe that the case described here was of this kind.