DISEASES
description
Patients with drug-induced lupus (DIL) often develop some of the features of systemic lupus erythematous (SLE), especially low-grade fever, joint pains and inflammation of the lining around the lungs (pleurisy). A long list of drugs has been implicated in DIL, but it is important to distinguish from SLE because the condition can usually be reversed by stopping the offending drug. In addition, antibody tests, such as anti-histone, anti-chromatin/nucleosomes and anti-ssDNA, can help make the diagnosis of DIL. Although there is no highly–specific antibody test for DIL, if the patient has other antibodies associated with SLE such as anti-Sm, anti-Ro-60/SSA, anti-ribosomal P, and anti-DFS70, the diagnosis of DIL can be virtually excluded.
Symptoms
- Muscle pain (myalgia)
- Joint pain (arthralgia)
- Pain and discomfort due to inflammation around the heart or lungs (serositis)
- Butterfly rash on the face (malar rash)
- Red, inflamed, itchy skin rash triggered by sunlight (photosensitivity)
- Purple spots on the skin (purpura)
- Red or purple tender lumps due to inflammation of fat cells just under the skin (erythema-nodosum)
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Weight loss