ATENOLOL-INDUCED LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS

Atenolol is a beta-blocker commonly used for treating hypertension. It can induce various kinds of adverse side effects, including psoriasif orm skin eruptions, skin necrosis, vasculitis, and (rarely) drug-induc ed connective tissue disease. We encountered a patient receiving ateno lol for his hypertension for 3 years who subsequently acquired connect ive tissue disease and antihistone antibodies. The initial serologic a ntinuclear antibody test was negative at a dilution of 1/20 but was po sitive after further serial dilutions, indicating the prozone phenomen on as the cause of the false-negative result. Six months after discont inuation of atenolol, the skin rash disappeared and antihistone antibo dy subsided. His skin rash reappeared on rechallenge with atenolol for 3 days, confirming that atenolol was responsible for his lupus erythe matosus.