Abstract

RUEDA, Darío A. et al. Febrile agranulocytosis and reactive arthropathy associated with cocaine consumption in an HLA B27 positive patient. Medicina (B. Aires) [online]. 2020, vol.80, n.6, pp.722-725. ISSN 0025-7680.

Agranulocytosis associated with cocaine use is a phenomenon linked to the presence of levamisole, an anthelminthic and immunomodulating agent, used as an adulterant to cocaine. This reaction has been associated with the presence of HLA B27. In addition to agranulocytosis, people who use levamisole-adulterated cocaine may develop fever, skin lesions, arthralgias, and less frequently, inflammatory enthesitis and arthritis. We present the case of a cocaine-consuming patient with HLA B27 genotype, who developed febrile agranulocytosis and inflammatory arthropathy. The presence of p ANCA, atypical ANCA and MPO was detected in blood, and other causes of agranulocytosis were excluded. He was treated with corticosteroids and later methotrexate, therapy for addiction, with good evolution.

Keywords : Agranulocytosis; Cocaine; Levamisole; HLA-B27 antigen.

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