title: Chlorpromazine-induced lupus with cardiac tamponade.
abstract: Although the association of the phenothiazines with immunologic abnormalities is well known, reports of clinical lupus erythematosus are rare. We describe a 52-year old schizophrenic man on chronic chlorpromazine therapy who developed fever and pleuropericarditis with cardiac tamponade. Examination of the pleural and pericardial fluids showed anti-nuclear antibodies. The clinical syndrome responded to a short course of steroids and discontinuation of the chlorpromazine. Drug-induced lupus is a self-limited illness that resolves without long-term sequelae. However, patients should be observed carefully because cardiac tamponade may occur.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine/Rheumatology, VA Medical Center and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Jonas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Agudelo