Hydralazine therapy in hypertensive patients with idiopathic systemic lupus erythematosus

Seven hypertensive patients with idiopathic systemic lupus erythematosus were treated with hydralazine. They received a mean daily dose of 203 mg for a mean duration of 21 months. All were taking prednisone alone or in combination with azathioprine. During therapy with hydralazine, there were no new symptoms nor exacerbation of pre-existing symptoms attributable to systemic lupus. Laboratory parameters, including antinuclear antibody titers and complement levels, either improved or remained stable. The results indicate that hydralazine can be safely used in hypertensive patients with systemic lupus who are receiving concomitant immunosuppressive therapy.