Fulminant myopericarditis from phenytoin-induced systemic lupus erythematosus

Myocarditis and pericarditis are identified at autopsy in up to 50% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. However, clinical symptoms of heart failure are unusual, occurring in only 5%-7% of patients. Drug-induced lupus is rare and typically causes classic lupus symptoms of rash, fever, pleuritis, renal insufficiency, and arthritis. We present an unusual case of drug-induced lupus from chronic phenytoin use in a man who presented with symptoms of fulminant myopericarditis. To our knowledge, this is the first such case reported in English.