Browse A-Z

 
E-mail Form
Email Results

 
 
Print-Friendly
Bookmarks
bookmarks-menu

Drug-induced lupus erythematosus

Lupus - drug induced

Drug-induced lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disorder that is triggered by a reaction to a medicine.

Causes

Drug-induced lupus erythematosus is similar but not identical to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). It is an autoimmune disorder. This means your body attacks healthy tissue by mistake. It is caused by a reaction to a medicine. Related conditions are drug-induced cutaneous lupus and drug-induced ANCA vasculitis.

The most common medicines known to cause drug-induced lupus erythematosus are:

  • Isoniazid
  • Hydralazine
  • Procainamide
  • Tumor-necrosis factor (TNF) alpha inhibitors (such as etanercept, infliximab and adalimumab)
  • Minocycline
  • Quinidine

Other less common drugs may also cause the condition. These may include:

  • Anti-seizure medicines
  • Capoten
  • Chlorpromazine
  • Methyldopa
  • Sulfasalazine
  • Levamisole, typically as a contaminant of cocaine

Cancer immunotherapy drugs such as pembrolizumab can also cause a variety of autoimmune reactions including drug-induced lupus.

Symptoms of drug-induced lupus tend to occur after taking the drug for at least 3 to 6 months.

Symptoms

Symptoms may include:

Exams and Tests

The health care provider will do a physical exam and listen to your chest with a stethoscope. The provider may hear a sound called a heart friction rub or pleural friction rub.

A skin exam shows a rash.

Joints may be swollen and tender.

Tests that may be done include:

A chest x-ray may show signs of pleuritis or pericarditis (inflammation around the lining of the lung or heart). An ECG may show that the heart is affected.

Treatment

Most of the time, symptoms go away within weeks after stopping the medicine that caused the condition.

Treatment may include:

  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to treat arthritis and pleurisy
  • Corticosteroid creams to treat skin rashes
  • Antimalarial drugs (hydroxychloroquine) to treat skin and arthritis symptoms

If the condition is affecting your heart, kidney, or nervous system, you may be prescribed high doses of corticosteroids (prednisone, methylprednisolone) and immune system suppressants (azathioprine or cyclophosphamide). This is rare.

When the disease is active, you should wear protective clothing and sunglasses to guard against too much sun.

Outlook (Prognosis)

Most of the time, drug-induced lupus erythematosus is not as severe as SLE. The symptoms often go away within a few days to weeks after stopping the medicine you were taking. Rarely, kidney inflammation (nephritis) can develop with drug-induced lupus caused by TNF inhibitors or with ANCA vasculitis due to hydralazine or levamisole. Nephritis may require treatment with prednisone and immunosuppressive medicines.

Avoid taking the drug that caused the reaction in future. Symptoms are likely to return if you do so.

Possible Complications

Complications may include:

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Contact your provider if:

  • You develop new symptoms when taking any of the medicines listed above.
  • Your symptoms do not get better after you stop taking the medicine that caused the condition.

Prevention

Watch for signs of a reaction if you are taking any of the drugs that can cause this problem.

References

Benfaremo D, Manfredi L, Luchetti MM, Gabrielli A. Musculoskeletal and rheumatic diseases induced by immune checkpoint inhibitors: a review of the literature. Curr Drug Saf. 2018;13(3):150-164. PMID: 29745339 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29745339/.

Radhakrishnan J, Perazella MA. Drug-induced glomerular disease: attention required. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2015;10(7):1287-1290. PMID: 25876771 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25876771/.

Richardson B. Drug-induced lupus. In: Hochberg MC, Gravallese EM, Smolen JS, van der Heijde D, Weinblatt ME, Weisman MH, eds. Rheumatology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 140.

Rubin RL. Drug-induced lupus. Expert Opin Drug Saf. 2015;14(3):361-378. PMID: 25554102 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25554102/.

Vaglio A, Grayson PC, Fenaroli P, et al. Drug-induced lupus: traditional and new concepts. Autoimmun Rev. 2018;17(9):912-918. PMID: 30005854 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30005854/.

Text only

  • Lupus, discoid - view of lesions on the chest - illustration

    This close-up picture of the neck clearly shows the typical rounded appearance of discoid lupus. The whitish appearance is caused by scaling. The two dark spots are biopsy sites and are not part of the disease.

    Lupus, discoid - view of lesions on the chest

    illustration

  • Antibodies - illustration

    Antigens are large molecules (usually proteins) on the surface of cells, viruses, fungi, bacteria, and some non-living substances such as toxins, chemicals, drugs, and foreign particles. The immune system recognizes antigens and produces antibodies that destroy substances containing antigens.

    Antibodies

    illustration

  • Lupus, discoid - view of lesions on the chest - illustration

    This close-up picture of the neck clearly shows the typical rounded appearance of discoid lupus. The whitish appearance is caused by scaling. The two dark spots are biopsy sites and are not part of the disease.

    Lupus, discoid - view of lesions on the chest

    illustration

  • Antibodies - illustration

    Antigens are large molecules (usually proteins) on the surface of cells, viruses, fungi, bacteria, and some non-living substances such as toxins, chemicals, drugs, and foreign particles. The immune system recognizes antigens and produces antibodies that destroy substances containing antigens.

    Antibodies

    illustration

A Closer Look

 

Tests for Drug-induced lupus erythematosus

 

 

Review Date: 4/30/2023

Reviewed By: Neil J. Gonter, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, and private practice specializing in Rheumatology at Rheumatology Associates of North Jersey, Teaneck, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
© 1997- adam.com All rights reserved.

 
 
 

 

 

A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.