Naproxen-induced recurrent aseptic meningitis

Abstract

Aseptic meningitis has been linked to treatment with several nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (e.g., ibuprofen, tolmetin, sulindac), particularly in patients with disturbed immunity. Naproxen, however, has only once been reported to cause meningitis. We report a case of recurrent aseptic meningitis related to prolonged naproxen usage in a 38-year-old woman with longstanding, minimally symptomatic systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Two years after starting naproxen, she experienced three separate episodes of meningitis within a period of 10 months; each episode was preceded by resumption of naproxen administration or an increase in drug dosage. There was no clinical or serologic evidence for the flare-ups of her SLE. Discontinuation of naproxen was followed by prompt recovery once the relationship of the drug to her symptoms was realized. Off the drug, the patient has remained free of meningeal symptoms for more than 18 months. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents should be considered as possible causal agents in evaluating meningitis of obscure etiology.