Loading...
Although they are classically associated with drug-induced lupus erythematosus (LE), antihistone antibodies (AHAs) are often present in patients with other autoimmune disease. To determine the utility of AHA screening for identifying drug-induced LE, these authors retrospectively reviewed the results of 2850 serum samples submitted to their laboratory for antinuclear antibody testing over a 17-year period.
In 160 cases, an antihistone antibody was found during serologic testing. Ninety-three of the patients with positive AHA test results had systemic LE; 27 other patients had systemic sclerosis. Only four patients had drug-induced LE. Two additional patients had drug-induced SLE, but they did not have AHAs. The authors conclude that a positi…