Lupus-like Syndrome Induced by Procaine Amide

Abstract

A CASE IS reported in which chronic ingestion of procaine amide apparently induced an illness clinically indistinguishable from disseminated lupus erythematosus. In addition to positive lupus erythematosus (LE) cell preparations, antibody to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and cell nuclei were demonstrated. The illness subsided and the serologic findings reverted to normal when procaine amide was discontinued. The first case of a lupus-like syndrome apparently induced by procaine amide was reported in 1962.¹ The patient manifested an illness of several months' duration characterized by serositis, skin rash, myalgias, fever, and arthralgias with a positive LE cell preparation and a positive complement-fixation test with calf thymus nuclei. Both the clinical and laboratory manifestations subsided upon withdrawal of the drug. We wish to report the second case of a syndrome mimicking disseminated lupus erythematosus precipitated by ingestion of procaine amide and to present further serological studies which may help characterize the nature of