Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune condition which can be exacerbated by many factors, many of which are unknown. While flares can be controlled with medications, we often are unsure of their cause which makes disease maintenance difficult. It is possible that investigation of a patient’s habits, lifestyle, and diet may provide clues which make disease maintenance, and even remission, possible.
We present a 40-year-old female with a medical history of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) associated with contact allergies to nickel, and drug reactions to penicillin, tetracycline, clindamycin, erythromycin, and sulfa. Her first SLE episode occurred following a weekend at a tomato harvest and subsequent episodes followed upper respiratory tract symptoms treated with antibiotics. These episodes resolved spontaneously. A dentist breaking a stainless steel tool, lodging the tip within her tooth, precipitated 2 years of chronic fatigue, joint pains, butterfly rash, peripheral edema, irritable bowel, and general malaise. Her ANA titer was > 1:640 and homogeneous suggesting a drug eruption.
On physical exam, the patient had a butterfly rash and urticarial papules and plaques on her trunk and extremities in a distribution corresponding to areas in contact with metal.
Detailed history of her first SLE episodes were associated with ingesting dozens of tomatoes as well as with taking aspirin with antibiotics. To investigate her allergies, a lymphocytic activation assay was performed under laminal flow hoods, using RPMI media without bovine serum, penicillin or streptomycin. The assay revealed lymphocyte activation to 10-9-10-18 molar to penicillin, salicylates, nickel, cobalt, chrome, and sulfonamide. Additionally, the reaction to salicylates was at 10-9 molar but was 10-18 molar to Bayer Aspirin™ tablet; (n.b.: the tablet combines salicylates with metal fillers).
The patient noted significant improvement with dietary restriction of salicylate and nickel containing foods, including tomatoes, as well as avoidance of nickel containing cookware, which not only includes base metal cookware but also stainless steel (
Foods containing high amounts of salicylates, the foods listed are common sources of salicylates [
Common sources of nickel within food, foods cooked within stainless steel cookware, such as those listed, are sources of food containing nickel [