Linezolid-induced purpuric medication reaction

A 64-year-old Caucasian male was seen in consultation for a petechial eruption that began 9 days after he started linezolid therapy for a retroperitoneal abscess. Skin findings included confluent non-blanching petechiae and purpura covering his entire body, without any active bleeding. A punch biopsy from the left lateral arm was performed and showed a perivascular inflammatory infiltrate composed of lymphocytes, histiocytes and rare eosinophils, and extravasated erythrocytes. Changes of leukocytoclastic vasculitis were not noted. Linezolid was promptly discontinued. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a biopsy-proven purpuric medication reaction secondary to linezolid therapy.