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Recombinant interferon α2a is effective in the treatment of discoid and subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus
Author(s) -
THIVOLET J.,
NICOLAS J.F.,
KANITAKIS J.,
LYONNET S.,
CHOUVET B.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2133.1990.tb08290.x
Subject(s) - medicine , clearance , subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus , exacerbation , discoid lupus erythematosus , lupus erythematosus , dermatology , systemic lupus erythematosus , discontinuation , gastroenterology , toxicity , surgery , connective tissue disease , immunology , autoimmune disease , urology , disease , antibody
SUMMARY Ten patients suffering from either discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) or subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE) were treated with interferon α2a. Eight received low or intermediate doses (18–45 × 10 6 U/week) for a short period of time (4–8 weeks), with marked improvement of skin lesions in six, an exacerbation in one patient and no change in the other. Two patients with SCLE received high doses (100–120 × 10 6 U/week) over 12 weeks, with complete clearing of the lesions in one and a marked improvement in the other. The responses were of short duration and within a few weeks of stopping treatment all who had improved or cleared relapsed. The side‐effects in all the patients were fever and a flu‐like syndrome which necessitated a reduction of the dose in one case. In two patients there were increases in the liver enzyme levels, but no haematological toxicity was noted.