Acute Low-Dose Hydralazine-Induced Lupus Pneumonitis

A 35-year-old female was started on hydralazine 10 mg orally three times a day for treatment of postpartum hypertension. Three months later, after multiple unsuccessful courses of prednisone and antibiotics for presumed pneumonia and asthma exacerbations, her respiratory symptoms progressed in sever...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sarah K. Holman, Donique Parris, Sarah Meyers, Jason Ramirez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2017-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Pulmonology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/2650142
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832563812852563968
author Sarah K. Holman
Donique Parris
Sarah Meyers
Jason Ramirez
author_facet Sarah K. Holman
Donique Parris
Sarah Meyers
Jason Ramirez
author_sort Sarah K. Holman
collection DOAJ
description A 35-year-old female was started on hydralazine 10 mg orally three times a day for treatment of postpartum hypertension. Three months later, after multiple unsuccessful courses of prednisone and antibiotics for presumed pneumonia and asthma exacerbations, her respiratory symptoms progressed in severity and she developed resting hypoxia. Previous diagnostic work-up included spirometry with a restrictive pattern, chest CT showing bilateral basilar consolidation, negative BAL, and nonspecific findings on lung biopsy of mild inflammatory cells. Review of systems was positive for arthralgia, lymphadenopathy, paresthesia, and fatigue that began four weeks after starting hydralazine. A clinical diagnosis of hydralazine-induced lupus (HIL) with pneumonitis was made. Antihistone antibodies were positive supporting a diagnosis of HIL. Management included cessation of hydralazine and a prolonged steroid taper. Within days, patient began improving symptomatically. Six weeks later, CT chest showed complete resolution of infiltrates. Genetic testing revealed she was heterozygous for N-acetyltransferase 2 (intermediate acetylator). Drug-induced lupus should be considered in patients with lupus-like symptoms taking medications with a known association. While the majority of HIL cases occur with high doses and prolonged treatment, cases of low-dose HIL have been reported in patients who are slow acetylators.
format Article
id doaj-art-e9cffdac23774cbb928caace38017afd
institution Kabale University
issn 2090-6846
2090-6854
language English
publishDate 2017-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Case Reports in Pulmonology
spelling doaj-art-e9cffdac23774cbb928caace38017afd2025-02-03T01:12:30ZengWileyCase Reports in Pulmonology2090-68462090-68542017-01-01201710.1155/2017/26501422650142Acute Low-Dose Hydralazine-Induced Lupus PneumonitisSarah K. Holman0Donique Parris1Sarah Meyers2Jason Ramirez3Notre Dame of Maryland University School of Pharmacy, 4701 North Charles St, Bunting 103, Baltimore, MD 21210, USAUniversity of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USADepartment of Family and Community Medicine, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, MD 21201, USADepartment of Family and Community Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USAA 35-year-old female was started on hydralazine 10 mg orally three times a day for treatment of postpartum hypertension. Three months later, after multiple unsuccessful courses of prednisone and antibiotics for presumed pneumonia and asthma exacerbations, her respiratory symptoms progressed in severity and she developed resting hypoxia. Previous diagnostic work-up included spirometry with a restrictive pattern, chest CT showing bilateral basilar consolidation, negative BAL, and nonspecific findings on lung biopsy of mild inflammatory cells. Review of systems was positive for arthralgia, lymphadenopathy, paresthesia, and fatigue that began four weeks after starting hydralazine. A clinical diagnosis of hydralazine-induced lupus (HIL) with pneumonitis was made. Antihistone antibodies were positive supporting a diagnosis of HIL. Management included cessation of hydralazine and a prolonged steroid taper. Within days, patient began improving symptomatically. Six weeks later, CT chest showed complete resolution of infiltrates. Genetic testing revealed she was heterozygous for N-acetyltransferase 2 (intermediate acetylator). Drug-induced lupus should be considered in patients with lupus-like symptoms taking medications with a known association. While the majority of HIL cases occur with high doses and prolonged treatment, cases of low-dose HIL have been reported in patients who are slow acetylators.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/2650142
spellingShingle Sarah K. Holman
Donique Parris
Sarah Meyers
Jason Ramirez
Acute Low-Dose Hydralazine-Induced Lupus Pneumonitis
Case Reports in Pulmonology
title Acute Low-Dose Hydralazine-Induced Lupus Pneumonitis
title_full Acute Low-Dose Hydralazine-Induced Lupus Pneumonitis
title_fullStr Acute Low-Dose Hydralazine-Induced Lupus Pneumonitis
title_full_unstemmed Acute Low-Dose Hydralazine-Induced Lupus Pneumonitis
title_short Acute Low-Dose Hydralazine-Induced Lupus Pneumonitis
title_sort acute low dose hydralazine induced lupus pneumonitis
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/2650142
work_keys_str_mv AT sarahkholman acutelowdosehydralazineinducedlupuspneumonitis
AT doniqueparris acutelowdosehydralazineinducedlupuspneumonitis
AT sarahmeyers acutelowdosehydralazineinducedlupuspneumonitis
AT jasonramirez acutelowdosehydralazineinducedlupuspneumonitis