A new onset of systemic lupus erythematosus developed after bee venom therapy.
Lupus is a systemic autoimmune disease of an unknown origin, and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can be triggered by numerous stimuli. Bee venom therapy is an alternative therapy that is believed to be effective for various kinds of arthritis. We present here a case of a 49-year-old female who experienced a new onset lupus after undergoing bee venom therapy, and this looked like a case of angioedema. The patient was successfully treated with high dose steroids and antimalarial drugs. We discuss the possibility of bee venom contributing to the development of SLE, and we suggest that such treatment should be avoided in patients with lupus.
Rho
Young Hee
YH
Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, and Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Woo
Jin-Hyun
JH
Choi
Seong Jae
SJ
Lee
Young Ho
YH
Ji
Jong Dae
JD
Song
Gwan Gyu
GG
D001514:Bee Venoms / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged
D001514:Bee Venoms