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ANCA‐associated vasculitis and lupus‐like syndrome caused by methimazole
Author(s) -
KAWACHI Y.,
NUKAGA H.,
HOSHINO M.,
IWATA M.,
OTSUKA F.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
clinical and experimental dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1365-2230
pISSN - 0307-6938
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2230.1995.tb01340.x
Subject(s) - methimazole , medicine , vasculitis , anti nuclear antibody , systemic lupus erythematosus , complication , graves' disease , autoimmune disease , antibody , lupus erythematosus , immunology , gastroenterology , dermatology , pathology , disease , autoantibody , thyroid
Summary A 24‐year‐old woman with Graves' disease treated with methimazole for 4 years, developed recalcitrant ulcers on the lower legs. Histological studies demonstrated vasculitis in deep dermal vessels accompanied by C3 deposition. Laboratory investigation revealed lupus‐like abnormalities (leucocytopenia, positive antinuclear and antidouble strand (ds) DNA antibodies, and positive ANCA). The leg ulcers dramatically improved after methimazole was withdrawn. In addition, leucocytopenia and the immunological abnormalities soon laded. Although lupus‐like syndrome is well known to be induced by antithyroid drugs, vasculitis is a rare complication. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report describing ANCA‐associated vasculitis caused by methimazole.