A rare complication due to propylthiouracil use: Lupus-like syndrome

Abstract

Propylthiouracil and methimazole are frequently used in the management of hyperthyroidism. A 36 year old female patient with toxic multinodular goiter, developed polyarthralgia, neutropenia, hypergammaglobulinemia, and microscopic hematuria after treatment with propylthiouracil (PTU). Antinuclear antibody (ANA) was positive whereas anti-double stranded DNA, antihistone antibody were negative. PTU was discontinued and all symptoms subsided gradually. All these findings suggest that she developed a PTU-induced lupus-like syndrome.