Cephalexin-Induced Leukocytoclastic Vasculitis

Abstract

Although allergies to antibiotics are commonly stated, allergies to cephalosporin antibiotics are uncommonly reported. Furthermore, dermatologic and systemic reactions from cephalosporin exposure involving end-organ damage are rare. We present a case of cephalexin, a cephalosporin, induced hypersensitivity vasculitis causing characteristic non-blanching purpuric lesions along with acute kidney failure necessitating hospitalization, corticosteroids, and initiation of hemodialysis.

Leukocytoclastic vasculitis caused by sulfamethoxazole‐trimethoprim

“…In our case, vancomycin was used for 6 weeks before it was de‐escalated to SMT. Vancomycin can also cause LCV, as evidenced by published reports 14–16 . However, in our patient, the rash appeared after 3 days of initiation of SMT.…”

“…Vancomycin can also cause LCV, as evidenced by published reports. [14][15][16] However, in our patient, the rash appeared after 3 days of initiation of SMT. The temporal relation between SMT initiation and the appearance of rash, and disappearance of the rash on discontinuing SMT favors SMT as the culprit rather than vancomycin in our case.…”