Skip to main content

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

Publication ,  Journal Article
Baptiste, GG; Alexopoulos, AS; Masud, T; Bonsall, JM
Published in: Case Reports in Medicine
January 1, 2015

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.

Duke Scholars

Altmetric Attention Stats
Dimensions Citation Stats

Published In

Case Reports in Medicine

DOI

EISSN

1687-9635

ISSN

1687-9627

Publication Date

January 1, 2015

Volume

2015
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Baptiste, G. G., Alexopoulos, A. S., Masud, T., & Bonsall, J. M. (2015). Systemic Levamisole-Induced Vasculitis in a Cocaine User without Cutaneous Findings: A Consideration in Diagnosis. Case Reports in Medicine, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/547023
Baptiste, G. G., A. S. Alexopoulos, T. Masud, and J. M. Bonsall. “Systemic Levamisole-Induced Vasculitis in a Cocaine User without Cutaneous Findings: A Consideration in Diagnosis.” Case Reports in Medicine 2015 (January 1, 2015). https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/547023.
Baptiste GG, Alexopoulos AS, Masud T, Bonsall JM. Systemic Levamisole-Induced Vasculitis in a Cocaine User without Cutaneous Findings: A Consideration in Diagnosis. Case Reports in Medicine. 2015 Jan 1;2015.
Baptiste, G. G., et al. “Systemic Levamisole-Induced Vasculitis in a Cocaine User without Cutaneous Findings: A Consideration in Diagnosis.” Case Reports in Medicine, vol. 2015, Jan. 2015. Scopus, doi:10.1155/2015/547023.
Baptiste GG, Alexopoulos AS, Masud T, Bonsall JM. Systemic Levamisole-Induced Vasculitis in a Cocaine User without Cutaneous Findings: A Consideration in Diagnosis. Case Reports in Medicine. 2015 Jan 1;2015.

Published In

Case Reports in Medicine

DOI

EISSN

1687-9635

ISSN

1687-9627

Publication Date

January 1, 2015

Volume

2015