Activation of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus by Drugs

SYNDROMES with clinical, laboratory, and anatomical features identical with those of systemic lupus erythematosus have been reported after administration of certain drugs. A list of agents which have been implicated is contained in Table 1. The drugs listed do not seem to have a single common denominator either chemically or pharmacologically. With the exception of penicillin, they do have in common the feature that in each case, systemic lupus erythematosus has followed use of the drug in high dosages for periods in excess of two months.The present study represents an attempt to determine what importance prior intensive drug therapy might have in the development of signs and symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus. METHODS AND MATERIALS GENERAL PLAN. —Case records of patients diagnosed clinically as having systemic lupus erythematosus SLE were examined from the point of view of symptoms, diagnosis, and therapy administered before onset of systemic lupus erythematosus.Records