DILE Drug induced Lupus Erythematosis

http://www.lupus.org/education/brochures/drug.html

and from the Postgrad Medicine site

QUOTE
Drug-induced lupus
In 1945, the first lupuslike reaction to a medication was reported with sulfasalazine (Azulfidine). Since then, 70 drugs have been implicated as causing or exacerbating SLE. Many of these are listed in table 2. Drug-induced lupus is most frequent in older patients. Men and women are equally at risk. The most common symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthralgia, and serositis.

Table 2. Medications that may cause drug-induced lupus?
Atenolol (Tenormin)
Captopril (Capoten)
Carbamazepine
Chlorpromazine HCl (Thorazine)
Clonidine HCl (Catapres)
Danazol (Danocrine)
Diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren)
Disopyramide (Norpace)
Ethosuximide (Zarontin)
Gold compounds
Griseofulvin
Hydralazine HCl (Apresoline)
Ibuprofen
Interferon alfa
Isoniazid (Laniazid, Nydrazid)
Labetalol HCl (Normodyne, Trandate)
Leuprolide acetate (Lupron)
Levodopa (Dopar, Larodopa)
Lithium carbonate
Lovastatin (Mevacor)
Mephenytoin (Mesantoin)
Methyldopa (Aldomet)
Methysergide maleate (Sansert)
Minoxidil (Loniten, Rogaine)
Nalidixic acid (NegGram)
Nitrofurantoin (Furadantin, Macrobid, Macrodantin)
Oral contraceptives
Penicillamine (Cuprimine, Depen)
Penicillin
Phenelzine sulfate (Nardil)
Phenytoin sodium (Dilantin)
Prazosin (Minipress)
Primidone (Mysoline)
Procainamide HCl (Procan, Pronestyl)
Promethazine HCl (Anergan, Phenergan)
Propylthiouracil
Psoralen
Quinidine
Spironolactone (Aldactone)
Streptomycin sulfate
Sulindac (Clinoril)
Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine)
Tetracycline
Thioridazine HCl (Mellaril)
Timolol maleate (Betimol, Timoptic)
Tolazamide (Tolinase)
Tolmetin sodium (Tolectin)
Trimethadione (Tridione) [/b][/quote]

love
Lily

Hi Brenda,

It is on that Post Grad site referred to as being one of the possible drugs that could cause a drug induced lupus (althought its not in the list of the ones most likely to cause a problem) . The fact its on that list doesnt mean it will do that with everyone and we have discussed this in the past:

http://www.uklupus.co.uk/facts.html

If you are on it and you havent had any problems then I wouldnt be concerned. There are lots of NSAIDS available to us and if one doesnt suit then there are other choices.

The very nature of drug induced lupus means that once the drug is withdrawn then they symptoms should go and the ANA return to normal. Its very different to someone who already has lupus and has trouble tolerating a certain med - like me with Ibuprofen for example. If I take it it makes my symptoms worse, but I have Lupus anyway, so its not classed as a drug induced lupus.

The reason I posted this thread was that many people come in here with a few symptoms and think they have Lupus, their docs have failed to realise that it may actually be a drug induced lupus, rather than the 'real thing' and for them the fix is easy. Withdraw the drug.

love
Lily

Hi Brenda,

This article outlines the major differences in SLE and drug induced lupus erythematosis (DILE). http://www.emedicine.com/DERM/topic107.htm

It's hard to pick it but I am sure your doctor would have considered it as a possibility and investigated thoroughly whilst diagnosing you.

Either way, if you need that drug what is the alternative really???.................same with things like Atenenol...............people with heart conditions would probably die without it, so not taking it is not an option They treat DILE the same way they treat SLE if the patient cannot be taken off the drug causing it.

Of particular interest to me in the article is the fact they mention birth control pills!! but the thing that must be remembered here is that when they talk about DILE they mean in a patient who had NO signs of lupus prior to taking the drug and its obvious the drug brought it on. It's not the same as someone who had some inkling of problems prior to taking it anyway and this maybe just brought it out of hiding.

love
Lily