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eMedicine Journal > Dermatology > Connective Tissue Diseases
Lupus Erythematosus, Drug-Induced

Synonyms, Key Words, and Related Terms: drug-related lupus, lupuslike syndrome, lupus-like syndrome, lupus erythematosus medicamentosus, drug-induced systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE, drug-induced SLE, drug-induced systemic lupus erythematosus, renal idiopathic lupus, DILE, LE, drug-induced LE, autoimmune disease
Author Information | Introduction | Clinical | Differentials | Workup | Treatment | Follow-up | Miscellaneous | Test Questions | Pictures | Bibliography

AUTHOR INFORMATION Section 1 of 11    Click here to go to the top of this page Click here to go to the next section in this topic

Authored by C Lisa Kauffman, MD, Professor, Chief, Division of Dermatology, Departments of Medicine and Pathology, Georgetown University Medical Center

Coauthored by Arden E Fredeking, BA, Georgetown University School of Medicine

C Lisa Kauffman, MD, is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, Royal Society of Medicine, Society for Investigative Dermatology, and Women's Dermatological Society

Edited by Craig A Elmets, MD, Director of Dermatology, Departments of Dermatology, Professor, Pathology, Environmental Health Sciences, The Kirklin Clinic, University of Alabama at Birmingham; Michael J Wells, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center; Jeffrey P Callen, MD, Chief, Division of Dermatology, Professor of Medicine (Dermatology), Department of Internal Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine; Glen H Crawford, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Chief, Division of Dermatology, The Pennsylvania Hospital; and Dirk M Elston, MD, Director, Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Medical Center

Author's Email:C Lisa Kauffman, MDClick here to view conflict-of-interest information on the author of this topic
Editor's Email:Craig A Elmets, MD 

eMedicine Journal, April 10 2007, VOLUME 8, Number 4
INTRODUCTION Section 2 of 11   Click here to go to the next section in this topic Click here to go to the top of this page Click here to go to the next section in this topic

Background: Lupus erythematosus (LE) is an autoimmune disease that can affect the skin, joints, heart, lungs, kidneys, and brain. Drug-induced LE (DILE) is a variant of autoimmune disease that resolves within days to months after withdrawal of the culprit drug in a patient with no underlying immune system dysfunction. Care must be taken to correctly diagnose the symptoms of DILE and differentiate it from the systemic autoimmune disease, and DILE should be recognized clinically and serologically for prompt intervention.

DILE can arise months to years after exposure to drugs prescribed to treat a variety of medical conditions (eg, antihypertensives, antibiotics, anticonvulsants). The most common drugs that cause DILE are hydralazine, procainamide, quinidine, isoniazide, diltiazem, and minocycline.

Although both systemic LE (SLE) and DILE are autoimmune disorders and can have similar clinical and laboratory features, research suggests different mechanistic pathways. Although the pathogenesis of DILE is not completely understood, genetic predisposition may play a role as shown with certain drugs metabolized by acetylation such as procainamide or hydralazine. Varying mechanisms leading to the formation of self-recognizing antibodies may explain the differential characteristics of drug effects in persons with DILE and LE. For example, whereas some drugs can cause DILE (see Drugs that cause DILE), others may cause a flare of preexisting LE (see Drugs that cause flares of SLE). Drugs such as procainamide, and chloropromazine, and quinidine cause the production of anti-nuclear antibodies against the histone dimer H2A-H2B. Hydralazine forms ANAs to H1 and the H3-H4 complex. Drugs that cause DILE usually take months to years to bring on the associated symptoms, while
flares of LE due to drugs may occur within hours to days.

DILE is characterized by improvement upon withdrawal of the offending drug or agent in a patient with a previously normal immune system. No specific criteria establish the diagnosis of DILE, and excluding underlying autoimmune disease is not a simple process. Obvious clinical or serologic evidence of DILE is not invariably present, even in rare cases of fatal DILE. Patients who have serologic and clinical findings that normally would indicate SLE might actually have DILE. The symptoms of both drug-induced flares of SLE and DILE are temporally related to drug exposure, and SLE and DILE have similar manifestations. Thus, DILE is typically diagnosed by a process of elimination to rule out SLE.

Although both LE and DILE can affect multiple organ systems, including the skin, joints, kidneys, and CNS, complications of DILE that affect the kidneys and CNS are generally considered rare. In DILE induced by certain drugs, however, the rate of kidney involvement can be significant. For example, the rate of glomerulonephritis in hydralazine-induced DILE is 5-10%. Penicillamine is also more likely to be associated with renal disease. Rare cases of death associated with DILE have been reported as a direct result of renal complications. Thus, a renal biopsy may be necessary to rule out membranous proliferative and necrotizing glomerulonephritis. Hepatic necrosis is another potential serious complication of DILE and has been documented in cases of minocycline-induced DILE.

For proper diagnosis, the following factors should be preliminarily confirmed:

Drugs that cause DILE are as follows:

Drugs that cause flares of SLE are as follows:

Pathophysiology: Both SLE and DILE are autoimmune diseases that cause the immune system to manufacture autoantibodies against the patient's own tissues. It is unclear exactly which characteristics of a drug cause the auto-antibody formation but there are a couple theories. One, is that the drug serves as a substrate for myeloperoxidase that is activated in PMNs. This interaction causes the formation of reactive metabolites that directly affect lymphocyte function. A second theory is that with decreased T-cell methylation there is an overexpression of LFA-1 (lymphocyte function-associated antigen). T-cells with hypomethylated DNA become autoreactive and cause antibody formation. This is the mechanism by which UV light causes flares of lupus. Thirdly, the genetic differences in a persons p450 system causes drugs to be metabolized differently causing the generation of toxic metabolites that may facilitate autoimmunity. The medications and other exposures implicated in DILE and flares of SLE produce autoantibodies more
often than systemic autoimmune symptoms. Despite these commonalities, research suggests that DILE and SLE have separate and distinct mechanistic pathways.

Molecular mimicry between antibodies directed against infectious agents (eg, bacteria, Epstein-Barr virus) and self-antigens has been implicated in SLE. These theories hold that in SLE, the immune system generates autoantibodies to foreign antigens and, in turn, these autoantibodies attack the patient’s own tissues.

Autoantibodies in DILE are thought to be generated by a different mechanism than molecular mimicry. Metabolites of drugs that cause DILE are subjected to oxidative metabolism by neutrophils, creating reactive metabolites. Virtually all lupus-inducing drugs have been shown to undergo oxidative metabolism, while analogous non–lupus-inducing drugs do not undergo oxidation. The drug metabolite, in turn, is thought to trigger reactions in the thymus that prevent T cells from developing tolerance to the patient's own tissues. In a mouse model, reactive metabolites of procainamide injected into the thymus have been shown to result in lupuslike autoantibodies. Unlike in drug hypersensitivity reactions, this process takes months to years of drug exposure for symptoms to develop.

The production of autoimmune T cells is initiated in the thymus by the capacity of reactive drug metabolites to disrupt central T-cell tolerance. Both mouse model and human studies implicate thymic activity, possibly indicating the persistence of thymic activity into advanced adult life.

Predisposing factors to the development of DILE include a slow drug-acetylator phenotype and advancing patient age. Slower acetylation may play a role in the greater predisposition for elderly persons to develop DILE. Higher rates of DILE in elderly persons, however, is also likely due to decreased drug clearance and increased medication usage in these individuals.

Biologics such as interleukins (eg, interleukin 2), interferons (eg, alfa, gamma, beta), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) (eg, TNF-alpha) inhibitors are associated with musculoskeletal symptoms and antibody production suggestive of a lupuslike autoimmune disorder. In one study, approximately 14% of rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with anti–TNF-alpha developed anti-DNA antibodies, while less than 1% developed lupuslike symptoms. In another study, TNF-alpha protected against the development of lupus nephritis in a mouse model of SLE.

Comparison of Findings Between DILE and SLE
Findings SLE DILE
Clinical Average age of onset of 20-30 y
Affects blacks more than whites
Female-to-male ratio of 9:1
Average age of onset of 50-70 y
Affects whites more than blacks
Female-to-male ratio of 1:1
Laboratory Antihistone antibodies in 50%
Anti-dsDNA present in 80%
C3/C4 levels decrease
Cutaneous findings in >75%
Raynaud phenomenon in 50%
Antinuclear antibodies in >95%
Antihistone antibodies in >95%
Anti-ssDNA present
Anti-dsDNA rare C3/C4 levels normal
Cutaneous findings in ~25%
Raynaud phenomenon in 25%
Antinuclear antibodies in >95%
Immunofluorescence



Histopathology
Direct immunofluorescence reveals granular deposition of
immunoglobulin G at dermoepidermal junction
Lymphohistiocytic interface dermatitis
Apoptosis basal vacuolization
Same as SLE

Same as SLE

Frequency:

Mortality/Morbidity: Death from DILE is extremely rare and may result from renal involvement. In diagnosing DILE, first excluding the possibility of renal idiopathic lupus rather than DILE is extremely crucial.

Race: More whites than blacks develop DILE; more blacks than whites present with SLE.

Sex: In DILE, no significant statistical difference is apparent in the prevalence for males versus females. In contrast, SLE affects women with considerably higher frequency than men (female-to-male ratio of 9:1).

Age: Patients with DILE tend to be older (50-70 y) than those with SLE (average age 29 y at diagnosis). Elderly persons generally are more susceptible to DILE.
CLINICAL Section 3 of 11   Click here to go to the next section in this topic Click here to go to the top of this page Click here to go to the next section in this topic

History:

Physical:

Causes: DILE may be induced by medications or caused by other compounds in the environment. The most common drugs that cause DILE are hydralazine (rate roughly 20%), procainamide (rate roughly 20%, 5-8% if taken for 1 y), quinidine, and minocycline.

DIFFERENTIALS Section 4 of 11   Click here to go to the next section in this topic Click here to go to the top of this page Click here to go to the next section in this topic

Lupus Erythematosus, Discoid
Lupus Erythematosus, Subacute Cutaneous
Neonatal Lupus Erythematosus


Other Problems to be Considered:

Renal idiopathic lupus
Systemic

WORKUP Section 5 of 11   Click here to go to the next section in this topic Click here to go to the top of this page Click here to go to the next section in this topic

Lab Studies:

Imaging Studies:

Procedures:

Histologic Findings: Skin biopsy and direct immunofluorescence typically reveal findings that are indistinguishable from SLE. Histologic examination reveals variable epidermal atrophy, basal vacuolar degeneration, apoptotic or dyskeratotic keratinocytes, and lymphocytic interface dermatitis (see Images 2-3). Direct immunofluorescence may reveal granular deposition of immunoglobulin G along the dermoepidermal junction.

TREATMENT Section 6 of 11   Click here to go to the next section in this topic Click here to go to the top of this page Click here to go to the next section in this topic

Medical Care: Symptoms usually clear within weeks of stopping the culprit drug; however, residual antibodies may persist for extended periods after discontinuation of the identified causative agent. Generally, no other specific treatments are known.

Activity: No specific activity restrictions are recommended. Normal activity may resume when arthralgias and myalgias resolve.
FOLLOW-UP Section 7 of 11   Click here to go to the next section in this topic Click here to go to the top of this page Click here to go to the next section in this topic

Further Outpatient Care:

Complications:

Prognosis:

Patient Education:

MISCELLANEOUS Section 8 of 11   Click here to go to the next section in this topic Click here to go to the top of this page Click here to go to the next section in this topic

Medical/Legal Pitfalls:

TEST QUESTIONS Section 9 of 11   Click here to go to the next section in this topic Click here to go to the top of this page Click here to go to the next section in this topic

CME Question 1: Which of the following should be preliminarily confirmed for a proper diagnosis of drug-induced lupus erythematosus (DILE)?


A: The patient has one or more clinical symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus. No prior history of systemic lupus erythematosus is reported before the patient began using a particular isolated drug.
B: Antinuclear antibodies are present.
C: The drug was taken anytime from 3 weeks to 2 years prior to the appearance of symptoms.
D: Improvement is rapid when the patient stops taking the drug, while antinuclear antibodies and other serologic markers slowly decrease toward normal levels.
E: All of the above

The correct answer is E: Following the above diagnostic algorithm prior to diagnosing the patient with DILE, rather than systemic lupus erythematosus, is extremely important.

CME Question 2: Rare cases of fatal drug-induced lupus erythematosus (DILE) are probably due to the failure of which of the following organ systems?


A: Rheumatological
B: Dermatological
C: Renal
D: Cardiac
E: Pulmonary

The correct answer is C: Although drug-induced, rare cases of fatal DILE might more appropriately be diagnosed as renal idiopathic lupus.

Pearl Question 1 (T/F): The most common cause of drug-induced lupus erythematosus (DILE) is prescription drugs originally taken for treatments unrelated to DILE.

The correct answer is True: Other possible causes include sensitivity to insecticide compounds, certain metallic compounds, or eosin (fluorescent acid dye found in some lipsticks).

Pearl Question 2 (T/F): The most effective way to treat correctly diagnosed drug-induced lupus erythematosus (DILE) is to advise the patient to stop taking the identified drug.

The correct answer is True: Advising the patient to stop taking the identified drug is not only the most effective way, it also is the only known cure for DILE. Symptoms should clear within a few weeks or months, although tests may subsequently indicate higher levels of antibodies for longer periods. If symptoms do not clear within a few months of stopping the drug, then the disease is probably not DILE. The most likely other candidate is systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which may require systemic therapy. This is an important reason why SLE should be excluded before diagnosing a patient with DILE and stopping the individual drugs.

Pearl Question 3 (T/F): Drug-induced lupus erythematosus (DILE) cannot occur from anti-inflammatory medications taken to treat systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

The correct answer is False: As many as 10% of cases of new-onset lupus erythematosus may be DILE. SLE and DILE can occur simultaneously.

Pearl Question 4 (T/F): Drug-induced lupus erythematosus (DILE) can arise from drugs prescribed to treat medical conditions other than systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

The correct answer is True: DILE can arise from drugs prescribed to treat medical conditions other than SLE, such as antiarrhythmics (eg, procainamide, quinidine) and antibiotics (eg, minocycline, isoniazid).
PICTURES Section 10 of 11   Click here to go to the next section in this topic Click here to go to the top of this page Click here to go to the next section in this topic

Caption: Picture 1. Erythematous macules and papules are seen on the face, upper chest, and arms in a photodistribution.
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Caption: Picture 2. The dermis contains an interface and a superficial and deep perivascular lymphohistiocytic infiltrate (100X, hematoxylin and eosin stain).
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Caption: Picture 3. Parakeratosis, apoptosis, and basal vacuolization (200X, hematoxylin and eosin stain).
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BIBLIOGRAPHY Section 11 of 11   Click here to go to the next section in this topic Click here to go to the top of this page

NOTE:
Medicine is a constantly changing science and not all therapies are clearly established. New research changes drug and treatment therapies daily. The authors, editors, and publisher of this journal have used their best efforts to provide information that is up-to-date and accurate and is generally accepted within medical standards at the time of publication. However, as medical science is constantly changing and human error is always possible, the authors, editors, and publisher or any other party involved with the publication of this article do not warrant the information in this article is accurate or complete, nor are they responsible for omissions or errors in the article or for the results of using this information. The reader should confirm the information in this article from other sources prior to use. In particular, all drug doses, indications, and contraindications should be confirmed in the package insert. FULL DISCLAIMER
eMedicine Journal, April 10 2007, VOLUME 8, Number 4
© Copyright 2001, eMedicine.com, Inc.

eMedicine Journals > Dermatology > Connective Tissue Diseases > Lupus Erythematosus, Drug-Induced
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