[Drug-induced systemic lupus erythematosus: reports to The Netherlands Pharmacovigilance Centre Lareb]

Drug-induced SLE and idiopathic SLE differ in a number of important aspects, for example the male/female ratio and the age of the patients. There are also differences in incidence in different populations. The mechanism of drug-induced SLE is still largely unknown. It is generally assumed to be an allergic reaction to the drug. The database of the Netherlands Pharmacovigilance Centre Lareb contains 31 reports of SLE in relation to the use of 24 different drugs. In 3 of these cases, there was aggravation of pre-existent SLE. Infliximab and terbinafine are the most frequently reported in association with drug-induced SLE. Furthermore, the database contains a small number of reports of SLE associated with the use of antibiotics. It is difficult to determine whether all of the reported cases involve true drug-induced SLE, but a number of factors suggest that this is often the case, such as the presence or absence of skin involvement and the number of patients that recover after withdrawal of the drug. During the diagnosis of SLE, healthcare professionals should be aware of the use of drugs that might be associated with the induction of SLE.