Clinical and laboratory characteristics of drug-induced vasculitic syndromes

Clinical recognition of drug-induced vasculitic and lupus-like syndromes is very important because continued use of the offending drug can lead to irreversible and life-threatening vasculitic organ damage (e.g. end-stage renal disease or pulmonary haemorrhage). Withdrawal of the drug often leads to spontaneous recovery, meaning that immunosuppressive therapy can be avoided. The presence of myeloperoxidase-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies, IgM anticardiolipin antibody, and antihistone antibodies in combination was found to be characteristic of drug-induced vasculitic syndromes caused by the antithyroid drugs propylthiouracil and methimazol. Clinically, skin vasculitis and arthralgias predominated and renal vasculitis was rare.