Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 12, 2026
12:23
Granulocyte-dependent Autoantibody-induced Skin Blistering
Published on: October 12, 2012
Orlistat-induced bullous leukocytoclastic vasculitis
Tamara Lazic1, Margaret Fonder, Leslie Robinson-Bostom
1Department of Dermatology and Skin Surgery, Roger Williams Medical Center, Providence, RI 02908, USA.
Cutis
|April 27, 2013
Summary
Cutaneous leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LCV) can be triggered by medications. This case study details LCV induced by orlistat, a common weight-loss drug, highlighting a potential adverse drug reaction.
Area of Science:
- Immunodermatology
- Pharmacology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Cutaneous leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LCV), or small-vessel vasculitis, is an immune complex-mediated inflammatory condition affecting the skin.
- While often idiopathic (up to 50% of cases), LCV can be associated with medications, infections, autoimmune diseases, paraproteinemias, and neoplasms.
Observation:
- A case report details a patient who developed cutaneous LCV.
- The vasculitis was determined to be induced by orlistat, a medication used for weight loss.
Findings:
- Orlistat, a pancreatic lipase inhibitor, functions by reducing dietary fat absorption.
- This report identifies orlistat as a potential causative agent for drug-induced LCV.
Implications:
- Clinicians should consider orlistat as a potential trigger in patients presenting with cutaneous LCV.
- This finding expands the known spectrum of adverse drug reactions associated with orlistat.
- Awareness of this association may aid in the timely diagnosis and management of LCV.
Related Concept Videos
01:01Hypersensitivity Reactions: Cytolytic Reactions
Type II hypersensitivity involves IgG and IgM antibodies targeting cell surface antigens, leading to cell destruction. This can occur through complement activation, antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), or acting as opsonins for phagocytosis. When excessive, these reactions cause significant tissue damage.Drug-induced hemolytic anemia is a common example, where drugs like penicillin or cephalosporins bind to red blood cells, forming drug-protein complexes. These complexes...
01:25Endocarditis II: Clinical Features of Infective Endocarditis
Endocarditis can present various clinical features depending on the causative organism and the patient's underlying health conditions. Initially, the clinical features of infective endocarditis develop gradually, presenting with nonspecific symptoms that can be easily mistaken for other illnesses.General SymptomsEarly symptoms of infective endocarditis are fever, chills, weakness, malaise, fatigue, and weight loss. These symptoms reflect the systemic nature of the infection and the body's...
01:20Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Clinical Manifestations
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) encompasses two major chronic disorders—ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease—each characterized by relapsing episodes of gastrointestinal inflammation. Although they share certain clinical features, their patterns of involvement and manifestations differ in ways that aid diagnosis and guide management.Ulcerative ColitisUlcerative colitis is limited to the colon and rectum and involves continuous inflammation of the mucosal layer. The disease course is marked...
01:27Disorders of Leukocytes
Leukocyte disorders can lead to either leukopenia, characterized by an abnormally low leukocyte count, or leukocytosis, marked by a very high leukocyte number.
Leukopenia may result from bone marrow disorders, autoimmune diseases, and infectious diseases. For example, conditions such as multiple myeloma and aplastic anemia can impair the bone marrow's ability to produce adequate leukocytes. Similarly, autoimmune diseases like lupus and viral infections such as HIV can prompt the immune system...
Leukopenia may result from bone marrow disorders, autoimmune diseases, and infectious diseases. For example, conditions such as multiple myeloma and aplastic anemia can impair the bone marrow's ability to produce adequate leukocytes. Similarly, autoimmune diseases like lupus and viral infections such as HIV can prompt the immune system...
01:21Cytotoxic Edema: Pathophysiology
Cytotoxic edema is a form of cerebral edema characterized by intracellular swelling of neurons, astrocytes, and other glial cells. It develops when the mechanisms responsible for maintaining ionic gradients across the cell membrane become impaired. Under normal physiological conditions, the sodium–potassium ATPase actively transports sodium ions out of the cell and potassium ions into the cell, preserving osmotic balance and enabling electrical signaling. This pump requires a continuous supply...
01:20Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the colon characterized by continuous mucosal inflammation that typically begins in the rectum and extends proximally in a uniform pattern. Its pathogenesis involves a complex interplay of genetic predisposition, immune dysregulation, and environmental influences. These factors converge to impair the colon’s epithelial defenses and promote an exaggerated inflammatory response against luminal contents.Breakdown of the Mucosal BarrierA...