Drug-Induced Lupus-Like Syndrome

Abstract

Introduction This is a report which demonstrates how the administration of a variety of drugs can produce a clinical syndrome indistinguishable from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Among these drugs, the best known is hydralazine.¹ This agent, when used continuously for several months in the treatment of hypertension, will usually induce a clinical syndrome resembling SLE.² Similar syndromes have recently been reported when anticonvulsant drugs have been administered.^3-6 Apparent induction of the lupus erythematosus (LE) cell phenomenon by antituberculous therapy has recently been reported in one patient.⁷ Another publication ⁸ states that aminosalicylic acid apparently also induced the LE cell phenomenon. Review of the original publication,⁹ quoted by Simpson and Walker, fails to substantiate this report. The present report concerns a patient who developed a systemic lupus-like syndrome while on antituberculous therapy. Temporal relationships and clinical features of this case make it appear likely that the