title: The hairy-print for levamisole-induced vasculitis.
abstract: Levamisole-induced vasculitis is a well-characterised antineutrophil cytoplasm antibodies (ANCA)-positive vasculitis in cocaine abuser patients. However, due to the short half-life of levamisole in serum and urine, the causal role of levamisole is not established. Here we report the detection of both levamisole and cocaine in hair samples of a patient who presented with an ANCA-positive vasculitis. The higher concentration of levamisole in proximal sample of the hair confirms that the patient abused of cocaine added with levamisole in the days preceding the development of skin lesions. Although a direct causative role has not been established, our report strongly suggests that levamisole may have triggered vasculitis in this case.
authors.affiliation: Service de Dermatologie, Université Paris Descartes, Pavillon Tarnier, Hôpital Cochin, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lazareth
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Peytavin
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Polivka
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dupin
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000032:analysis; D000328:Adult; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000139:chemically induced; D003042:Cocaine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000139:chemically induced; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007978:Levamisole / Q000032:analysis*; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000139:chemically induced; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D007978:Levamisole; D003042:Cocaine; D011241:Prednisone; D008727:Methotrexate