title: Synovial fluid characteristics and the lupus erythematosus cell phenomenon in drug-induced lupus. Findings in three patients and review of pertinent literature.
abstract: The characteristics of synovial fluid obtained from 3 patients with drug-induced lupus erythematosus are described. Two patients had "inflammatory" counts of synovial leukocytes, in the range of 2,500-39,000/mm3, with mononuclear predominance in 1 patient and neutrophil predominance in the other. The third patient had "noninflammatory" fluid, with mononuclear predominance. Lupus erythematosus cells formed in vivo were observed in the synovial fluid of 2 of the patients. Biopsy of the synovium of 1 patient showed nonspecific chronic inflammatory changes. Our findings in these patients with drug-induced lupus are indistinguishable from those previously described in patients with idiopathic lupus erythematosus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia.
authors.forename: F B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Vivino
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Schumacher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008617:Mephenytoin / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D011342:Procainamide / Q000009:adverse effects; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000166:cytology*; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D011342:Procainamide; D008617:Mephenytoin