Lupus and pulmonary nodules consistent with bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia induced by carbamazepine

Carbamazepine-induced lupus is uncommon; its frequency is less than 0.001% of the cases of lupus treated. Herein we describe a 52-year-old woman who had development of facial erythema, arthralgia, dyspnea, and multiple pulmonary rounded masses and nodules while she was taking carbamazepine for epilepsy. Pulmonary histologic examination showed bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia. Antinuclear antibodies and antihistone antibodies were present without antibodies to double-stranded DNA. Thirteen months after carbamazepine had been withdrawn, all symptoms had disappeared without the use of anti-inflammatory drugs. Even though pulmonary involvement is possible during carbamazepine treatment, to our knowledge, bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia on its own or associated with carbamazepine-induced lupus has not been previously described.