It is alleged in the article "Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Childhood," by Jerry C. Jacobs, M.D. (Pediatrics, 32:257, 1963), that 7 of the 35 reported cases were induced by anticonvulsant drugs (diphenylhydantoin, trimethadione or methylphenylethylhydantoin). It is quite obvious that this group of patients were rendered acutely ill by reactions (presumably allergic) to a variety of commonly employed anticonvulsants, but whether the illness described was actually SLE is open to question.
Obviously, the key issue lies in the acceptance of the presence of the LE cell as ipso facto evidence of SLE.