Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Drug-induced lupus erythematosus history and symptoms
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Drug-induced lupus may develop a few weeks to several months after starting the drug, which may make the diagnosis difficult. Further, it is not possible to differentiate DIL from SLE based on clinical features alone, although DIL tends to be milder and renal or CNS involvement, vasculitis, leukopenia, and pericarditis are rare.
History
History
Drug-induced lupus erythematosus manifests in three clinical syndromes:
- systemic drug-induced lupus erythematosus.
- subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus.
- chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus.
Common Symptoms
Common Symptoms
Symptoms of drug-induced lupus erythematosus include:
- Joint pain/arthritis
- Fever
- Inflammation of the heart and lungs
- Elevated blood pressure
- Skin rashes
- Fatigue and weakness
- Muscle pain
- Loss of appetite
- Facial butterfly rash
- Sensitivity to sunlight
- Chest pain
- Swollen lymph nodes
These signs and symptoms are not side effects of the drugs taken which occur during short term use. DIL occurs over long-term and chronic use of the medications listed above. While these symptoms are similar to those of systemic lupus erythematosus, they are generally not as severe unless they are ignored which leads to more harsh symptoms, and in some reported cases, death.
Less Common Symptoms
Less Common Symptoms
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]