France: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are linked with pharmacovigilance signals for the occurrence of drug-induced lupus erythematosus (DILE), states a research letter published in JAMA Dermatology.

Previous studies have suggested the role of proton pump inhibitors in the occurrence of DILE for drug-induced cutaneous lupus erythematosus (DI-CLE) and systemic lupus erythematosus (DI-SLE) but are not adequately characterized. Therefore, Pauline Bataille and the research team from France aimed to investigate the pharmacovigilance signal of PPI-associated DILE. For this purpose, they used different indicator tools for disproportionate reporting. They also sought to better characterize the spectrum of PPI-associated DILE by zeroing in on DILE type and therapeutic management.

In the analysis, the researchers included DILE cases reported by a physician after Jan. 1, 2002. They described the "immunological, clinical and therapeutic" management of suspected PPI-associated DILE.
The study demonstrated the following findings:
A total of 21,104,559 cases reported between January 1995 and December 2019 were included in the VigiBase database, among which 625 were identified as DILE associated with a PPI. Among 307 of the cases, a PPI was the only drug suspected. Omeprazole was the PPI most often involved, at 30.4% of cases.
The analysis of the French database yielded 60 cases of proton pump inhibitor-associated DILE, of which 49 were included for analysis following review.
Esomeprazole (Nexium, GlaxoSmithKline) was the most common inhibitor in this group and was involved in 46.9% of cases.
Treatment was ended in 35 of 41 patients. Of these 35 patients, 51.4% achieved disease remission without specific treatment.
"The study highlighted the following points; first, PPIs may be linked with not only isolated DI-CLE but also DI-SLE with or without cutaneous involvement," the researchers wrote. "Secondly, subacute CLE was found to be the most common subtype in contrast with discoid CLE in the general population among the cases of DI-CLE cases."
The researchers also identified two cases of discoid cutaneous lupus erythematosus and one of tumidus lupus, which stresses that other subtypes of CLE may be associated with PPIs.
About Proton Pump Inhibitors
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are medications that work by the reduction of the amount of stomach acid made by the stomach lining. They are used to relieve symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or acid reflux, treat a duodenal or stomach (gastric) ulcer and treat damage to the lower oesophagus resulting from acid reflux.
Reference:
Bataille P, Lebrun-Vignes B, Tubach F, et al. Proton Pump Inhibitors Associated With Drug-Induced Lupus Erythematosus. JAMA Dermatol. 2022;158(10):1208–1210. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2022.2421