Recurrent Febrile Neutropenia and Thrombocytopenia in a Chronic Cocaine User: A Case of Levamisole Induced Complications

Cocaine is used by approximately 1.5 million Americans each month and up to 69% of the cocaine seized contains levamisole. The real incidence of cocaine-levamisole induced neutropenia is unclear but probably underestimated. Associated complications include fever, thrombocytopenia, skin-vasculitis di...

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Main Authors: Eduardo Martinez, Raza Alvi, Sindhaghatta Venkatram, Gilda Diaz-Fuentes
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2015-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Critical Care
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/303098
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author Eduardo Martinez
Raza Alvi
Sindhaghatta Venkatram
Gilda Diaz-Fuentes
author_facet Eduardo Martinez
Raza Alvi
Sindhaghatta Venkatram
Gilda Diaz-Fuentes
author_sort Eduardo Martinez
collection DOAJ
description Cocaine is used by approximately 1.5 million Americans each month and up to 69% of the cocaine seized contains levamisole. The real incidence of cocaine-levamisole induced neutropenia is unclear but probably underestimated. Associated complications include fever, thrombocytopenia, skin-vasculitis disorders, and rarely kidney injury. We present a young male, with chronic active cocaine use presenting with recurrent episodes of febrile neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. He underwent extensive work-up and was treated with many antibiotics and we suspect that his neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were caused by recurrent cocaine-levamisole use.
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spelling doaj-art-9afa36631a1243d295a9007adbc1fdba2025-08-20T02:20:27ZengWileyCase Reports in Critical Care2090-64202090-64392015-01-01201510.1155/2015/303098303098Recurrent Febrile Neutropenia and Thrombocytopenia in a Chronic Cocaine User: A Case of Levamisole Induced ComplicationsEduardo Martinez0Raza Alvi1Sindhaghatta Venkatram2Gilda Diaz-Fuentes3Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center, Bronx, NY 10457, USAAlbert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USADivision of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center, Bronx, NY 10457, USADivision of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center, Bronx, NY 10457, USACocaine is used by approximately 1.5 million Americans each month and up to 69% of the cocaine seized contains levamisole. The real incidence of cocaine-levamisole induced neutropenia is unclear but probably underestimated. Associated complications include fever, thrombocytopenia, skin-vasculitis disorders, and rarely kidney injury. We present a young male, with chronic active cocaine use presenting with recurrent episodes of febrile neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. He underwent extensive work-up and was treated with many antibiotics and we suspect that his neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were caused by recurrent cocaine-levamisole use.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/303098
spellingShingle Eduardo Martinez
Raza Alvi
Sindhaghatta Venkatram
Gilda Diaz-Fuentes
Recurrent Febrile Neutropenia and Thrombocytopenia in a Chronic Cocaine User: A Case of Levamisole Induced Complications
Case Reports in Critical Care
title Recurrent Febrile Neutropenia and Thrombocytopenia in a Chronic Cocaine User: A Case of Levamisole Induced Complications
title_full Recurrent Febrile Neutropenia and Thrombocytopenia in a Chronic Cocaine User: A Case of Levamisole Induced Complications
title_fullStr Recurrent Febrile Neutropenia and Thrombocytopenia in a Chronic Cocaine User: A Case of Levamisole Induced Complications
title_full_unstemmed Recurrent Febrile Neutropenia and Thrombocytopenia in a Chronic Cocaine User: A Case of Levamisole Induced Complications
title_short Recurrent Febrile Neutropenia and Thrombocytopenia in a Chronic Cocaine User: A Case of Levamisole Induced Complications
title_sort recurrent febrile neutropenia and thrombocytopenia in a chronic cocaine user a case of levamisole induced complications
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/303098
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