Drug-induced systemic lupus erythematosus in a nine-year-old boy

After a series of intercurrent infections, a 9-year-old boy on ethosuximide for pefit mal developed typical drug-induced systemic lupus erythematosus. After ethosuximide was stopped, he continued to deteriorate and was treated with corticosteroid therapy, which could be only gradually tapered off over many months. Follow-up 4 years later showed him to be completely well.