From the Research
Drug-Induced Lupus
- Drug-induced lupus is a syndrome resembling mild systemic lupus erythematosus that can complicate treatment with certain drugs 1, 2, 3, 4
- The most common individual agents associated with drug-induced lupus are procainamide and hydralazine, while drugs less frequently associated with the disease include chlorpromazine, isoniazid, and sulfasalazine 1
- The syndrome is characterized by arthralgia, myalgia, pleurisy, rashes, and fever in association with antinuclear antibodies in the serum 1, 2
Linezolid and Drug-Induced Lupus
- There is no direct evidence in the provided studies to suggest that linezolid can cause drug-induced lupus 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
- Linezolid is an oxazolidinone agent used against Gram-positive bacteria, and its pharmacological issues have been reviewed, but no association with drug-induced lupus has been reported 5
Diagnosis and Treatment of Drug-Induced Lupus
- Diagnosis of drug-induced lupus requires identification of a temporal relationship between drug administration and symptom development, and resolution of symptoms generally occurs after cessation of the drug 3, 4
- Treatment of drug-induced lupus typically involves discontinuation of the offending drug, and symptoms usually resolve within weeks or months 2, 3, 4