Purpuric irritant contact dermatitis induced by Agave americana

The sap of Agave americana, a popular ornamental plant, may cause irritant contact dermatitis. This rare eruption is typically vesiculopapular, howeve r, a new purpuric variant with evidence of leukocytoclastic vasculitis has recently been reported. We report an additional case of a purpuric eruption associated with severe constitutional symptoms further supporting a possib le vasculitic component. Both cases resulted from direct exposure to sap pr opelled by a chainsaw. We speculate that oxalic acid crystals, which are re cognized systemic toxins, are embedded in the skin with resulting oxalism, which may result in vascular damage.