Leukocytoclastic Vasculitis Induced by Cocaine Adulterated with Levamisole

  • Alberto Barbotti Department of Internal Medicine, Ospedale Regionale di Lugano EOC, Lugano, Switzerland
  • Alina Cristiana Gheorghiu Department of Internal Medicine, Ospedale Regionale di Lugano EOC, Lugano, Switzerland
  • Tanja Fusi-Schmidhauser Department of Internal Medicine, Ospedale Regionale di Lugano EOC, Lugano, Switzerland
  • Lorenzo Grazioli-Gauthier Department of Internal Medicine, Ospedale Regionale di Lugano EOC, Lugano, Switzerland
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12890/2022_003468

Keywords

Leukocytoclastic vasculitis, cocaine, heroin, levamisole

Abstract

Leukocytoclastic vasculitis is a cutaneous, small-vessel vasculitis. In 50% of cases the aetiology is idiopathic but it can be linked to drugs, infections, autoimmune disorders and various types of cancer. Levamisole is used as an adulterant in cocaine and heroin and has been associated with the development of leukocytoclastic vasculitis. We describe an atypical presentation of a patient with levamisole-induced leukocytoclastic vasculitis who presented with diffuse skin abscesses and a purpuric rash of the upper and lower limbs.

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    • Published: 2022-07-25

    Issue: 2022: Vol 9 No 7 (view)

    Section: Articles

    How to cite:
    1.
    Barbotti A, Gheorghiu AC, Fusi-Schmidhauser T, Grazioli-Gauthier L. Leukocytoclastic Vasculitis Induced by Cocaine Adulterated with Levamisole. EJCRIM 2022;9 doi:10.12890/2022_003468.

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