Necrosis of Ears after Use of Cocaine Probably Adulterated with Levamisole

Background/Aims: Levamisole is an anthelminthic drug with immunomodulatory properties that has been found to be an adulterant of cocaine in the last 2 years. It was present at least in 70% of tainted cocaine in the USA in 2009. Methods: We present the case of a 40-year-old patient with a history of weekend cocaine use who consulted for bilateral necrotic lesions in the ears that had appeared 3 days after the last use. Results: Levamisole causes a typical clinical picture characterized by bilateral necrosis of the ears, positive perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies and laboratory findings of antiphospholipid syndrome, such as anticardiolipin antibodies and/or lupus anticoagulant. Conclusion: Dermatologists should be aware of this new entity, which is likely to be more and more frequent due to the increasing use of cocaine. Here we describe a clinical case that is likely to be secondary to levamisole-tainted cocaine and review the literature. Copyright (C) 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel