A FAMILIAL STUDY OF PROCAINAMIDE-INDUCED SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS - A QUESTION OF PHARMACOGENETIC POLYMORPHISM

The family of a person in whom a lupus-like syndrome developed following the administration of procainamide was studied by detailed medical histories, hematologic, serologic and coagulation means. Of the ten members of the family available for study, five had significant histories and/or laboratory findings suggestive of an immunologic disorder. Serum from three members demonstrated the presence of antinuclear antibody. Coagulation abnormalities were found in three others. Pertinent reports from the literature are discussed and this information is correlated with current etiologic concepts to advance the hypothesis that drug induced systemic lupus erythematosus may be an expression of pharmacogenetic polymorphism. © 1968.