[A case of streptomycin-induced lupus]

A case of streptomycin-induced lupus occurring in a 48-year-old female is presented. She was admitted to our hospital in July 1990, complaining of productive cough and general fatigue. A chest roentgenogram showed cavitary lesions and infiltrative shadows in the bilateral upper and middle lung fields and a sputum smear tested positive for acid-fast bacilli. She was diagnosed as lung tuberculosis and antituberculous therapy with isoniazid, rifampicin and streptomycin was started. Ten days after starting the treatment, she began to complain of high fever and erythema on her face and forearms. Blood cell count revealed leucopenia. The antinuclear antibody and antihistone antibody were positive. The improvement of clinical findings and the lowering of antinuclear antibody titer seen after stopping streptomycin confirmed the diagnosis as streptomycin-induced lupus. Streptomycin-induced lupus is very rare.