A case of leukocytoclastic vasculitis has been reported in connection to an artificial coloring agent.. - GreenMedInfo Summary
Leukocytoclastic vasculitis caused by drug additives.
J Am Acad Dermatol. 1994 May;30(5 Pt 2):854-5. PMID: 8169261
University of Louisville School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, KY.
Chronic cutaneous small vessel (leukocytoclastic) vasculitis (LCV) is a process believed to be related to the presence of circulating immune complexes. The most frequent causes and associated disorders are medications, infections, collagen vascular disorders, paraproteinemias, and, rarely, neoplasia. Reports of food or food additives as a causative factor for LCV have appeared but are rare. We report a patient with chronic cutaneous LCV in whom the presumed cause was an excipient (a dye) used in the capsule form of lithium carbonate. Furthermore, ingestion of foods containing dyes results in a disease flare in our patient.