Outcomes following antimalarial withdrawal in patients with quiescent systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: Antimalarial medications (AMs) are central to the management of SLE. We investigated the rate of flare in lupus patients who withdrew AM after achieving clinical remission for at least one year, compared to those who continued therapy and compared flare rates in cases who tapered AM versus abruptly withdrew.

Methods: Cases achieved clinical remission for at least one year then ceased their AM.

Liver dysfunction and anti-thyroid therapy.

Thioamides have been used in the management of hyperthyroidism for over 50 years. Liver dysfunction is a rare but important side effect associated with their use. Recently, cases of liver failure associated with propylthiouracil have prompted the Federal Drug Administration to issue a Boxed Warning to the label of propylthiouracil regarding its risk of potentially fatal liver injury and acute liver failure in adults and children.