title: Leukocytoclastic Vasculitis with Systemic Involvement Associated with Ciprofloxacin Therapy: Case Report and Review of the Literature.
abstract: A 71-year-old woman presented with constitutional signs and lower extremity palpable purpura after being prescribed a four-day course of 500 mg of ciprofloxacin two times daily for a gastrointestinal infection. She was admitted for inpatient treatment. During the third hospital day, she presented with an episode of abundant hematemesis while her skin lesions remained unchanged. Upper endoscopy revealed multiple lesions consistent with vasculitis and histological examination of the skin biopsy disclosed a leukocytoclastic vasculitis. The patient was successfully treated with prednisone following ciprofloxacin discontinuation. Complete resolution of the lesions on drug withdrawal strongly suggested drug toxicity, which was further supported by a score of 8 in the Naranjo Adverse Drug Reaction Probability Scale. Awareness that the development of skin and gastrointestinal lesions following administration of ciprofloxacin may be a manifestation of ciprofloxacin-induced vasculitis can help early detection, treatment, and lead to an overall good prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Medicine, University of Algarve.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Morgado
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Centre of Algarve.
authors.forename: Catarina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Madeira
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Medicine, University of Algarve.
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Centre of Algarve.
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pestana
keywords: ciprofloxacin; vasculitis