Leukocytoclastic vasculitis and acute allergic interstitial nephritis following ceftriaxone exposure

Ceftriaxone-induced leukocytoclastic vasculitis: a case report and literature review of antibiotic-induced leukocytoclastic vasculitis

Leukocytoclastic vasculitis (hypersensitivity vasculitis) is defined as small blood vessel inflammation with skin or other systemic manifestations due to infections, drugs, or neoplastic disease. This clinical case report highlights an association between ceftriaxone and leukocytoclastic vasculitis in a 49-year-old female patient with a history of penicillin allergy, on mirtazapine for anxiety disorder. Articles concerning antibiotic-induced leukocytoclastic vasculitis are also reviewed. The patient reported a symptom of upper respiratory tract infection and fever 5 days previously for which she received ceftriaxone for 2 days before presenting to the emergency department with a pruritic skin rash in the upper and lower extremities and swollen lips for 1 day. The rash was erythematous, maculopapular, itchy, and non-tender, with no mucus membrane involvement. Laboratory investigations revealed leukocytosis (white blood cells, 22.3 × 10⁹/L) that was mainly eosinophilic (18.4%). The patient was administered prednisolone and antihistamine after stopping ceftriaxone empirically. A skin biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of leukocytoclastic vasculitis. Significant clinical improvement was observed after treatment initiation. Upon follow-up, the skin rash was resolved entirely with no scars; however, there was skin-peeling over the lower extremities. Recognition of antibiotic-induced leukocytoclastic vasculitis is crucial as many classes of antibiotics can contribute to this condition. Continuation of the offending drug may lead to life-threatening complications.

The Efficacy of Tripterygium Glycosides Combined with LMWH in Treatment of HSPN in Children

Objective

This study aimed to explore the clinical efficacy and relevant mechanism of Tripterygium glycosides combined with low molecular weight heparin calcium (LMWH) in the treatment of Henoch–Schönlein purpura nephritis (HSPN) in children.

Methods

64 cases of children patients with HSPN treated at Qilu Hospital (Qingdao) from January 2015 to May 2020 were selected and randomly divided into the control group and the observation group and 32 cases in each group. Conventional medical treatment was applied in the two groups, besides which the control group was given LMWH while the observation group was given Tripterygium glycosides based on the control group. The clinical efficacy and the indexes of clinical symptoms of the two groups were compared. Immune globulin level, fibrinogen content (FIB), prothrombin time (PT), platelet level (PLT), and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) level of the two groups were compared before and after the treatment.

Results

The total effective rate in the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group, and the recurrence rate in the observation group was lower than that in the control group. After treatment, urine red blood cell count and 24 h urine protein were obviously better than those of the control group. There was no statistically significant difference in PT between the two groups of children before and after treatment. The levels of PLT and FIB in the two groups of patients after treatment were significantly lower than before treatment, and the PLT levels in the observation group were lower than those in the control group.

Conclusion

The combination of Tripterygium glycosides and LMWH had good clinical effects in the treatment of children with HSPN, and it could improve the clinical symptoms, the mechanism of which might be related to the increase of PT, a decrease of PLT, and the improvement of coagulation function.

Effects of dexamethasone and gamma globulin combined with prednisone on the therapeutic effect and immune function of Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis in children

Background

Henoch‐Schonlein purpura nephritis (HSPN) is a serious complication of Henoch‐Schonlein purpura (HSP), which is usually treated with immunosuppressant and glucocorticoid. This study was designed to explore the effect of dexamethasone and gamma globulin combined with prednisone in the treatment of pediatric HSPN.

Methods

According to the treatment plan, 60 children treated with dexamethasone and gamma globulin were included in the control group, and the rest 55 children treated with dexamethasone and gamma globulin combined with prednisone were selected as the research group. The clinical manifestations, therapeutic effect, immune function, serum inflammatory factors, blood coagulation function, urine routine, renal function, and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups.

Results

The clinical manifestations of children in the research group were significantly better than those in the control group after treatment (P < .05). The total effective rate in the research group (94.55%) was markedly higher than that in the control group (76.67%) (P < .05). CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, IL‐10, PT, and APTT increased while CD4+/CD8+, IgA, IL‐8, TNF‐α, FIB, urine protein, urine red blood cell, Scr, and BUN decreased in both groups after treatment, and the changes of all the above indexes in the research group were significant than those in the control group (P < .05). The incidence of adverse reactions in the research group was remarkably superior to that in the control group (P < .05).

Conclusion

Dexamethasone and gamma globulin combined with prednisone can improve the immune function of children with HSPN and promote the recovery of renal function.

Oxacillin-induced leukocytoclastic vasculitis

Leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LCV) refers to a histopathological pattern of neutrophil predominant inflammatory process of small vessels associated with fibrinoid necrosis. Cutaneous LCV usually presents as symmetrically distributed palpable purpuric nodules of the lower extremities with or without systemic involvement. Although 50% of LCV cases are idiopathic, it can be secondary to identifiable causes such as malignancy, autoimmune conditions, infections, and medications. Medications have been implicated in up to 25% of cases; sulfonamides, NSAIDs, and beta-lactams have the most frequent association. We herein present a 32-year-old female who developed palpable purpura over hands and lower limbs 12 days after exposure to oxacillin administered for infective endocarditis. Punch biopsy from the skin lesions confirmed the diagnosis of LCV. Given the temporal relationship between oxacillin administration and development of skin findings, the diagnosis of oxacillin-associated LCV was suspected. Discontinuation of drug resulted in resolution of the lesions confirming the diagnosis. To our knowledge, this is the second case of oxacillin-induced cutaneous LCV described in literature.

Vancomycin-Induced Leukocytoclastic Vasculitis and Acute Renal Failure Due to Tubulointerstitial Nephritis

BACKGROUND Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia and sepsis are commonly treated with intravenous vancomycin. However, vancomycin treatment is associated adverse reactions, including skin rashes and nephrotoxicity. We present a case of acute renal failure due to acute tubulointerstitial nephritis associated with a diffuse leukocytoclastic vasculitic skin eruption following intravenous vancomycin treatment. CASE REPORT A 79-year-old Caucasian male patient was treated with intravenous vancomycin for MRSA bacteremia. Prior to treatment, his creatinine was normal at 0.6 mg/dl. He presented one week later with shortness of breath, lower limb edema, and acute renal failure. He had a diffuse maculopapular rash involving the trunk and both upper and lower extremities. A renal biopsy and left arm skin biopsy were examined histologically. The skin biopsy showed leukocytoclastic vasculitis. Renal biopsy showed some sclerosed glomeruli, some with mesangial proliferation, and tubulointerstitial inflammation with eosinophils and plasma cells and mild interstitial fibrosis. Although there was some renal arteriolosclerosis, no vasculitic changes were seen, and no vascular thrombosis was present. A diagnosis of leukocytoclastic vasculitis and acute tubulointerstitial nephritis secondary to intravenous vancomycin therapy was made. CONCLUSIONS Although skin reactions associated with drug therapy are common, vancomycin-associated dermal vasculitis is rare. Tubulointerstitial nephritis is also a rare association with vancomycin treatment. This case report has highlighted that patients being treated with intravenous vancomycin should be carefully observed for acute skin rashes and deterioration in renal function, which can be managed by ceasing treatment with vancomycin, steroid challenge, and preventing future exposure to similar antimicrobial agents.