title: Hydralazine and lupus nephritis.
abstract: Renal involvement is uncommon in the hydralazine induced systemic lupus erythematosus syndrome. Six women with hypertension are described who developed an immune complex glomerulonephritis after taking 50-300 mg hydralazine daily for 6 months to 7 years. Associated features were anemia (100%), hypocomplementemia (50%), a positive antinuclear antibody test (100%) and antibodies to double-stranded DNA (66%). All patients were slow acetylators and four had HLA-DR 4 genotype. Renal function deteriorated in all cases. Cessation of hydralazine combined with immunosuppressive therapy resulted in amelioration of the disease. It is likely that the patients had a hydralazine induced lupus glomerulonephritis, or alternatively had an unmasking of an inherent tendency to idiopathic lupus nephritis by hydralazine.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D006830:Hydralazine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy; D007105:Immune Complex Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D006830:Hydralazine