A fatal case after an intravenous injection of levamisole.

Levamisole is a drug originally prescribed as an antihelmintic. Because of the occurrence of severe cases of agranulocytosis and leukoencephalitis it was removed from the French market in 1998 for human use, while it remains available for veterinary use. Nowadays in France its only use in humans is regulated by authorization for temporary use for its immunomodulatory properties in the treatment of nephritic syndrome.

Isolated body combustion: new French cases, old worldwide issues.

The authors present 2 new cases of so-called spontaneous human combustion. The first observations of isolated body combustion, to use a more appropriate term, date back to the 17th century. Its main features are that some parts of the body (usually the middle third) are badly burnt to the point of being reduced to ashes, contrasting with other well-preserved body parts and the intact or nearly intact immediate vicinity of the body.