Drug-induced rheumatic diseases:  a review of published case reports from the last two years.
OBJECTIVE
New drugs are continuously being developed and some rheumatic syndromes have been associated with specific drugs. As most of the rheumatic diseases are multisystem, it is worthwhile examining the wider case report literature to see whether any recent studies signify new associations between drugs and the rheumatic diseases. The last 2 years' case reports in English were scrutinized for noninfectious association with the rheumatic diseases. Cross-referencing from MEDLINE was performed using several databases including Google scholar; British Medical Journal (BMJ) case reports were also queried separately.


RESULTS
Fifty-three articles comprising 56 case reports are included in the review, with 27 (48.2%) associated with the vasculitides, eight (14.3%) associated with lupus and 13 (23.2%) were associated with the myositis syndromes. The commonest four groups of drugs to potentially induce rheumatic diseases were anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) drugs, oncology drugs, propylthiouracil and interferons.


CONCLUSIONS
It is important to recognise that drugs used in other specialties may induce rheumatic disease and vigilance on making a diagnosis is the key.
University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Lancaster Infirmary, Lancaster, Lancashire, UK. Marwan.bukhari@mbht.nhs.uk
Marwan
M
Bukhari
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents