Q: The use of which of the following drugs has resulted in the development of a syndrome strongly resembling systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)?
Explanation: Chronic (longer than 6 months) high dose administration of hydralazine (Apresoline) may produce an acute rheumatoid state in approximately 10% of patients taking the drug. A syndrome clinically indistinguish able from disseminated lupus erythematosus develops in a smaller percentage of users. This lupus-like syndrome (fever, arthralgia, splenomegaly, edema, and the presence of lupus erythematosus cells in the peripheral blood) has also been associated with procainamide use.