Severe panarteritis associated with drug abuse

A case of panarteritis with purpura fulminans, mononeuritis multiplex, gast rointestinal manifestation and presumably cardiac involvement in a previous ly healthy 22-year-old man with a history of drug abuse including cocaine, cannabinoids and methamphetamines is described. Histopathological examinati on of the gut led to the diagnosis of panarteritis without immune deposits. Antineutrophil antibodies were negative. Besides the drugs, no other possi ble cause of vasculitis was found. The patient recovered completely after 1 year. Drug abuse is a thus possible cause of severe extracerebral disablin g vasculitis.