Journal article
Levamisole-induced vasculopathy: a report of 2 cases and a novel histopathologic finding
The American journal of dermatopathology, Vol.34(2), pp.208-213
04/2012
DOI: 10.1097/DAD.0b013e31821cc0bf
PMID: 22094232
Abstract
Although cocaine-induced pseudovasculitis and urticarial vasculitis have been reported in the past, levamisole-induced vasculopathy with ecchymosis and necrosis, termed here LIVEN, has only recently been described in association with cocaine use. Levamisole, a veterinary antihelminthic agent used previously as an immunomodulating agent, is present as a "cutting agent" in approximately two-thirds of the cocaine currently entering the United States. Levamisole is believed to potentiate the effects of cocaine and may also be used as a "signature" for tracing its market distribution. Herein, we report 2 cases of LIVEN in patients with histories of chronic cocaine use. In both the cases, a temporal association with neutropenia preceding the eruption was noted. A novel histopathologic finding present only in the second case was the presence of extensive interstitial and perivascular neovascularization. Our 2 cases reaffirm that neutropenia may precede the cutaneous eruption of LIVEN. Case 2 extends the spectrum of histopathologic findings to include the novel phenomenon of neovascularization-hitherto unreported in this entity.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Levamisole-induced vasculopathy: a report of 2 cases and a novel histopathologic finding
- Creators
- Reza S Jacob - Department of Dermatology, Boston University School of Medicine,609 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118, USAClaudine Yap SilvaJennifer G PowersStefan M SchiekeGary MendeseRufus W BurlingameDaniel D MillerDeon WolpowitzEmmy GraberMeera Mahalingam
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The American journal of dermatopathology, Vol.34(2), pp.208-213
- Publisher
- United States
- DOI
- 10.1097/DAD.0b013e31821cc0bf
- PMID
- 22094232
- ISSN
- 0193-1091
- eISSN
- 1533-0311
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 04/2012
- Academic Unit
- Dermatology
- Record Identifier
- 9984025310102771
Metrics
11 Record Views