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Author Notes:

Joanna M. Bonsall: Email: jbonsal@emory.edu

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.

Subjects:

Systemic Levamisole-Induced Vasculitis in a Cocaine User without Cutaneous Findings: A Consideration in Diagnosis.

Tools:

Journal Title:

Case Reports in Medicine

Volume:

Volume 2015

Publisher:

, Pages 547023-547023

Type of Work:

Article | Final Publisher PDF

Abstract:

Levamisole is a known immunomodulating agent frequently used as a cutting agent in cocaine consumed in the United States today. Numerous cases of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) vasculitis connected with the use of levamisole-adulterated cocaine have previously been reported in the literature, classically characterized by a retiform purpuric rash. We report a case of a crack-cocaine user without cutaneous abnormalities who developed ANCA-associated glomerulonephritis that progressed to renal failure. This case demonstrates the difficulties in solidifying the diagnosis of levamisole-induced vasculitis in the absence of cutaneous findings and the need to pursue more testing to establish causality in ANCA-associated vasculitis that has potential for severe end-organ damage in patients who continue to use cocaine.

Copyright information:

© 2015 Gillian G. Baptiste et al.

This is an Open Access work distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/).

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