Question

Write clinical manifestations of drug-induced lupus.

Hint:

The symptoms of drug-induced lupus are usually mild and improve once the offending drug is stopped. The most common feature is the characteristic butterfly-shaped rash.

Answer 1

Step 1: General Symptoms of Drug-Induced Lupus.
The clinical manifestations of drug-induced lupus are similar to those of systemic lupus erythematosus but tend to be less severe. The most common symptoms include:
- Fatigue: Persistent tiredness is one of the most common early signs.
- Muscle pain (myalgi and joint pain (arthralgi: These are non-specific symptoms seen in many patients with drug-induced lupus.
- Butterfly-shaped rash: A rash across the cheeks and nose is characteristic but less frequent than in SLE.
- Photosensitivity: Increased sensitivity to sunlight may lead to rashes or exacerbation of symptoms upon sun exposure.
Step 2: Organ-Specific Involvement.
Although most symptoms are mild, some patients may experience:
- Pleuritis or pericarditis: Inflammation of the pleura or pericardium.
- Renal involvement: Uncommon in drug-induced lupus but can occur in severe cases.
- Serositis: Inflammation of the serous membranes (e.g., pleura or pericardium), which may result in chest pain and difficulty breathing.