Necrosis of ears after use of cocaine probably adulterated with levamisole.
Dermatology
; 223(1): 25-8, 2011.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-21846960
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS:
Levamisole is an anthelminthic drug with immunomodulatory properties that has been found to be an adulterant of cocaine in the last 2 years. It was present at least in 70% of tainted cocaine in the U.S.A. in 2009.METHODS:
We present the case of a 40-year-old patient with a history of weekend cocaine use who consulted for bilateral necrotic lesions in the ears that had appeared 3 days after the last use.RESULTS:
Levamisole causes a typical clinical picture characterized by bilateral necrosis of the ears, positive perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies and laboratory findings of antiphospholipid syndrome, such as anticardiolipin antibodies and/or lupus anticoagulant.CONCLUSION:
Dermatologists should be aware of this new entity, which is likely to be more and more frequent due to the increasing use of cocaine. Here we describe a clinical case that is likely to be secondary to levamisole-tainted cocaine and review the literature.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Levamisole
/
Drug Contamination
/
Cocaine-Related Disorders
/
Ear Auricle
/
Anthelmintics
Limits:
Adult
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
En
Journal:
Dermatology
Journal subject:
DERMATOLOGIA
Year:
2011
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Spain