title: Recombinant interferon alpha 2a is effective in the treatment of discoid and subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus.
abstract: Ten patients suffering from either discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) or subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE) were treated with interferon alpha 2a. Eight received low or intermediate doses (18-45 x 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 x 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.
authors.affiliation: Clinique Dermatologique, Hôpital E. Herriot, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thivolet
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Nicolas
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kanitakis
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lyonnet
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chouvet
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008178:Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous / Q000628:therapy*; D008179:Lupus Erythematosus, Discoid / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins