Levamisole-Induced Occlusive Necrotizing Vasculitis of the Ears After Use of Cocaine Contaminated with Levamisole

Abstract

Based on the best available data, approximately 2.1 million Americans use illicit cocaine each month; for the last several months, 30% of that cocaine has been "cut" with a veterinary pharmaceutical, levamisole. Levamisole can cause agranulocytosis, leaving patients susceptible to fulminate and opportunistic infections and also can cause a debilitating cutaneous necrotizing vasculitis. In this manuscript, we describe a case and provide an image of levamisole-induced necrotizing vasculitis of the ears. © 2010 American College of Medical Toxicology.