[Systemic lupus erythematosus induced by anticonvulsivant drug (author's transl)]. / Lupus eritematoso sistémico inducido por anticonvulsivante.

A 20-year-old patient with previous history since 9 years of age of epileptic crises, was followed since then by anticonvulsivant therapy. Eight months before her admittance to the hospital ethosuximide was added to the anticonvulsivant treatment with good results. The development of fever, pain in the joints, and pleuropericarditis decided her admittance, being the clinical evaluation analytically and immunologically compatible with a systemic lupus erythematosus. The discontinuance of the anticonvulsivant medication determined at the end of the 3rd week the clinical and analytical recovery of the patient. The immunological study was normal after 3 months. The addition of other anticonvulsivant drugs, without having modified the normal condition of the patient, establishes a cause-effect relationship after the administration of ethosuximide. The infrequency of this observation is commented on, and the present knowledge of the possible mechanisms implicated in the drug-induction of a systemic lupus erythematosus is discussed.