title: Levamisole-induced myopathy and leukocytoclastic vasculitis: a case report and literature review.
abstract: Levamisole, an immunomodulator and anthelmintic medication, has been used in dermatology for years. Even though the adverse effects are usually mild and reversible, attention should be paid toward severe events such as vasculitis and neutropenia. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report on a patient presenting with myopathy caused by levamisole. Here, we report a 34-year-old woman with recalcitrant warts who received levamisole 100 mg daily for 5 days. Subsequently, bilateral lower limb weakness accompanied by multiple painful and non-blanchable purpura was noted. Levamisole-induced myopathy and leukocytoclastic vasculitis were diagnosed by skin histopathology, direct immunofluorescence, and electromyography. After discontinuing levamisole and giving a short course of systemic steroid, these symptoms demonstrated a resolving trend.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Education and Family Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Meng-Hsuan
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Jen-Hung
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Sheng-Ling
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Kung
authors.forename: Yu-Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Hsiao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007978:Levamisole / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000139:chemically induced; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D014860:Warts / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D007978:Levamisole
keywords: leukocytoclastic vasculitis; levamisole; myopathy