26th February 2025

Drug-induced lupus erythematosus (DILE)

Multiple drugs have been shown to cause DILE. The most common include:

Drug-induced lupus usually occurs in patients at older ages than SLE, and renal, neurological and skin features are rare. Common presenting features include arthritis, fever, serositis and myalgia. TNF alpha-induced lupus-like syndrome (TAILS), however, commonly presents with skin involvement.

ANA is commonly positive in DILE, and anti-histone antibodies are seen more frequently in drug-induced lupus than in idiopathic SLE. Other antibodies, such as anti-Sm and anti DsDNA are occasionally seen.

Treatment is to remove the causative drug.