We report a case of cutaneous vasculopathy associated with the use of levamisole-adulterated cocaine. This recently described clinical entity is characterized by a purpuric rash with a predilection for the ears, leukopenia, and anti-neutrophilic cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) positivity. It is estimated that more than 70% of the current United States cocaine supply is contaminated with levamisole....

BACKGROUND Several different kinds of drugs have been used to treat chronic oral lichen planus (OLP). During the last decade, there have been several reports demonstrating success with levamisole and low dose prednisolone therapy for treating OLP. However, some OLP patients who have underlying diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and malignancy are unable to take steroids. OBJECTIVE The ai...

The anti-helminthic drug levamisole hydrochloride has been reported to stimulate immune responses in humans and experimental animals. We have investigated levamisole effects on human leukocyte locomotion in vitro in studies of neutrophils and mononuclear cells from normal adults, from patients with Chediak-Higashi disease and from patients with the syndrome of hyperimmunoglobulin E, recurrent p...

A small pilot study of levamisole in primary biliary cirrhosis failed to demonstrate any improvement in liver function and immunological abnormalities even in 'early' cases. This may be due to the fact that the defect in the immune system lies in its afferent arm. At present, levamisole, which is potentially toxic, cannot be recommended in conventional doses for the treatment of this disease.

Levamisole therapy was tested for its effect on herpetic trigeminal ganglionic latency in mice. There was no significant difference between recovery rate from levamisoletreated mice and that from non-treated mice during 12 weeks treatement. These results show that levamisole does not suppress herpetic ganglionic latency.

The stimulating effect of levamisole on immunity to Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis in mice was marginal, while no enhancement of immunity could be detected in sheep. The conclusion was reached that, as levamisole has no potentiating effect on immunity to C. pseudotuberculosis in normal sheep, it is of no practical value as an immunostimulant in this instance.

Levamisole has been implicated in the vasculitis and aganulocytosis. It has been pulled from the United States market for human use. Due to its euphoric and bulking properties, it has been . used as a bulking agent in cocaine. We hereby present a case of a 56-year-old Hispanic male, who developed vasculitis due to cocaine use adulterated with levamisole.

2,4-Disubstituted quinolines with additional substituents in positions 5-8 have been found to have anthelmintic properties. A number of 2,4-dimethoxy-6- or 8-arylquinolines have potent activity against the sheep nematode Haemonchus contortus, with LD99 values of the same order of magnitude as levamisole. These arylquinolines maintain their activity against levamisole-, ivermectin- and thiabenda...

We present three cases describing the various skin manifestations of presumed levamisole-contaminated cocaine use. Antibody-mediated vasculitis and neutropenia were consistent findings in these cases and repeat exposure resulted in distinct dermatologic complications. This phenomenon of levamisole-induced vasculitis and neutropenia is being increasingly described and has characteristic wound ma...