Radiocontrast-Related Leukocytoclastic Vasculitis Misdiagnosed as Diabetic Foot Ulcer in a Type 2 Diabetic Patient: A Case Report

ABSTRACT

The skin is the most affected tissue by many vasculitis syndromes. Leukocytoclastic vasculitis is the most common type of vasculitis syndrome and involves the small vessels. A long list of causative factors has been reported for leukocytoclastic vasculitis. Here, we present a type 2 diabetic patient who had purpuric skin lesions predominantly on the lower limbs and acute renal failure overriding to underlying chronic kidney disease due to leukocytoclastic vasculitis associated with radiocontrast administration. He was initially diagnosed as having diabetic foot ulcer at our outpatient clinic. After single dose betamethasone depot (9.6 mg i.m.), skin eruptions paled and improved; renal function showed an improvement on the following days. There are few case reports on the relationship of radiocontrast agent with leucocytoclastic vasculitis. Our case had leukocytoclastic vasculitis due to radiocontrast agent exposure which is very rare in the literature.