Lupus related to amiodarone has not previously been described. We report on a patient who developed drug induced lupus (DIL) in association with amiodarone treatment. To our knowledge, this is the first report of amiodarone induced lupus (CD ROM: Medline, USA National Library: 1966–98).

A 71 year old white woman was admitted because of two weeks of pleuritic chest pain, dyspnea on exertion, and non-productive cough. She had malaise, intermittent fever, arthralgia, and weight loss for more than six months. There was no history of Raynaud’s phenomenon, oral ulcers or photosensitivity. She had a six year history of arterial hypertension and atrial fibrillation treated with amiloride, digital and amiodarone (200 mg two times daily) for the past two years.

Physical examination disclosed malar rash, an aortic systolic murmur (grade II/VI), and hypoventilation in both pulmonary bases. Laboratory studies showed an erythrocyte sedimentation rate of 90 mm 1st h. Peripheral blood examination revealed a mild normochromic and normocytic anaemia (10 g/dl), normal white blood cells count (4000/μl), …