Cocaine/Levamisole-Induced, Skin-Limited ANCA-Associated Vasculitis with Pyoderma Gangrenosum-like Presentation

  • Urosevic-Maiwald M
  • Hardenberg J
  • Hafner J
  • et al.
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Abstract

The use of levamisole as the most frequent adulterant of cocaine has merged in previously unknown toxicities, notably a disease entity called cocaine/levamisole-associated autoimmune syndrome (CLAAS). Clinically, CLAAS can manifest with diverse cutaneous and extracutaneous features sharing common laboratory findings (neutropenia, autoantibody patterns). We report the case of a cocaine-abusing female patient with relapsing episodes of painful ulcers, worsening and expanding over a three-year period. The case exhibited all features of a drug-induced, skin-limited, ANCA-associated vasculitis, evolving over time to PG-like findings. In both disease stages, the patient responded well to the cessation of cocaine exposure and systemic glucocorticosteroids. This case demonstrates the continuous nature of cutaneous CLAAS manifestations in a single patient. CLAAS has become a major public health issue in the at-risk group of cocaine users, and clinicians should be alert of this condition when treating cocaine users presenting with single or multiple skin ulcerations.

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APA

Urosevic-Maiwald, M., Hardenberg, J.-H. B., Hafner, J., & Brüggen, M.-C. (2022). Cocaine/Levamisole-Induced, Skin-Limited ANCA-Associated Vasculitis with Pyoderma Gangrenosum-like Presentation. Dermatopathology, 9(3), 207–211. https://doi.org/10.3390/dermatopathology9030026

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