Cocaine Induced Vasculitis: Have We Found a Culprit? | Zendy

Alfredo Sánchez-Cruz | Zendy; Sylmarie Marrero | Zendy; José Alfredo Zavaleta Betancourt | Zendy; Myrna Andino | Zendy; Adolfo Lopez | Zendy; Jose J. Gutierrez-Nuñez | Zendy

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Cocaine Induced Vasculitis: Have We Found a Culprit?

Author(s) -

Alfredo Sánchez-Cruz,

Sylmarie Marrero,

José Alfredo Zavaleta Betancourt,

Myrna Andino,

Adolfo Lopez,

Jose J. Gutierrez-Nuñez

Publication year - 2012

Publication title -

case reports in rheumatology

Language(s) - English

Resource type - Journals

eISSN - 2090-6889

pISSN - 2090-6897

DOI - 10.1155/2012/982361

Subject(s) - levamisole , vasculitis , medicine , cocaine use , illicit drug , dermatology , culprit , drug , crack cocaine , immunology , pharmacology , psychiatry , disease , myocardial infarction

Cocaine abuse is relatively common in our society. To enhance profitability and acceptability of the product, it is not uncommon for illicit drugs to undergo several processes. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has reported that seventy percent (70%) of cocaine seized at USA borders has been adulterated with levamisole, previously used as chemotherapeutic and immunomodulator for several conditions. Among the side effects of levamisole-adulterated cocaine, necrotizing vasculitis is the more dramatic. We report three cases of necrotizing vasculitis associated with antineutrophils cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs) positivity, linked to the use of cocaine. To our knowledge, these are the first cases of cocaine induced vasculitis reported in the Caribbean.

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