title: Apremilast for discoid lupus erythematosus: results of a phase 2, open-label, single-arm, pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is a chronic inflammatory disorder mediated by Th1 cells. Apremilast is a novel oral PDE4 enzyme inhibitor capable of blocking leukocyte production of IL-12, IL-23, TNF-a, INF- with subsequent suppression of Th1 and Th17-mediated immune responses, and proven clinical efficacy for psoriasis as well as rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index (CLASI) showed a significant (P<0.05) decrease after 85 days of treatment with apremilast 20 mg twice daily in 8 patients with active discoid lupus. The adverse events related to the drug were mild and transient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first open label study to use apremilast as a treatment modality for discoid lupus. Our observations indicate that apremilast may constitute a safe and effective therapeutic option for DLE.
authors.affiliation: New York University School of Medicine, The Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Aieska
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Souza
authors.forename: Bruce E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Strober
authors.forename: Joseph F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Merola
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.forename: Andrew G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Franks
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D057194:Intention to Treat Analysis; D008179:Lupus Erythematosus, Discoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D058988:Phosphodiesterase 4 Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D058988:Phosphodiesterase 4 Inhibitors; D013792:Thalidomide; C505730:apremilast