Maintaining remission of lupus erythematosus profundus (LEP) with cyclosporin A

Cutaneous lupus erythematosus: A review of the literature

Knowledge with regard to the pathogenesis of lupus erythematosus has progressed rapidly over the past decade, and with it has come promising new agents for the treatment of cutaneous lupus erythematous (CLE). Classification of CLE is performed using clinical features and histopathologic findings, and is crucial for determining prognosis and choosing therapeutic options. Preventative therapy is critical in achieving optimal disease control, and patients should be counseled on sun-safe behavior and smoking cessation. First-line therapy includes topical corticosteroids and calcineurin inhibitors, with antimalarial therapy. Traditionally, refractory disease was treated with oral retinoids, dapsone, and other oral immunosuppressive drugs, but new therapies are emerging with improved side effect profiles and efficacy. Biologic agents, such as belimumab and ustekinumab, have been promising in case studies but will require larger trials to establish their role in routine therapy. Other novel therapies that have been trialed successfully include spleen tyrosine kinase inhibitors and fumaric acid esters. Finally, new evidence has been published recently that describes safer dosing regimens in thalidomide and lenalidomide, both effective medications for CLE. Given the chronic disease course of CLE, long-term treatment-related side effects must be minimized, and the introduction of new steroid-sparing agents is encouraging in this regard.

The Use of Cyclosporine A in Rheumatology: a 2016 Comprehensive Review

Cyclosporine A, an inhibitor of calcineurin, exerts an immunomodulator action interfering with T cell activation. Even though novel therapeutic tools have emerged, CyA still represents a suitable option in several clinical rheumatology settings. This is the case of refractory nephritis and cytopenias associated with systemic lupus erythematosus. Furthermore, CyA is a valued therapeutic tool in the management of uveitis and thrombophlebitis in course of Behçet's disease. Topical CyA has been proven to be beneficial in the dry eye of Sjogren's syndrome, whereas oral treatment with CyA can be considered for the severe complications of adult onset Still's disease. CyA provides a therapeutic option in psoriatic arthritis, being rather effective in skin disease. CyA is currently regarded as a second-line option for patients with inflammatory myopathies refractory to standard regimen. CyA is used even in paediatric rheumatology, in particular in the management of juvenile dermatomyositis and macrophage activation syndrome associated with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Importantly, CyA has been shown to suppress the replication of HCV, and it can thus be safely prescribed to those patients with chronic hepatitis C. Noteworthy, CyA can be administered throughout the gestation course. Surely, caution should be paid to CyA safety profile, in particular to its nephrotoxicity. Even though most evidence comes from small and uncontrolled studies with few randomised controlled trials, CyA should be still regarded as a valid therapeutic tool in 2016 rheumatology.

Lupus profundus limited to a site of trauma: Case report and review of the literature

Lupus erythematosus profundus (LEP) is a rare form of chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus. We report on a case of a 56-year-old Caucasian woman who presented with a single, persistent, painful rash on the left hip and lateral aspect of the left upper thigh, which had been present for 2.5 years. The patient had a history of previous injury to this area before the rash started. Clinical findings showed an inflamed, hyperpigmented, and indurated plaque with a linear skin invagination and no associated systemic symptoms. A skin biopsy test result confirmed the diagnosis of LEP and the clinical and laboratory examinations ruled out systemic lupus erythematosus. After 2 months of treatment with methotrexate 20 mg weekly and 1 month of prednisolone 7.5 mg daily, the skin rash improved considerably. We also present a brief review of the epidemiology, etiology, clinical features, histopathology, laboratory findings, differential diagnosis, and treatment of LEP.

Case report on a patient with lupus panniculitis

Lupus panniculitis is a rare variant of lupus erythematosus. It may occur as a separate disease or coexist with systemic or discoid lupus erythematosus. It is characterized by persistent, tender and hard nodules localised on the face, arms, shoulders, breast and buttocks. Healing of lesions is associated with scarring, lipoatrophy and rarely ulceration. Treatment of lupus panniculitis depends on disease advancement or concomitance of additional lupus erythematosus symptoms. We report a case of a 44-year-old patient with lupus panniculitis treated with chloroquine and glucocorticosteroids, including high dose infusions. Despite intense treatment, the patient developed symptoms that suggested a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Cutaneous lupus erythematosus

Cutaneous lupus erythematosus is a heterogeneous autoimmune condition that can significantly impact quality of life. Treatment is focused on reducing clinical inflammation and preventing scarring. The choice of treatment should be guided based on the severity of disease. Mild or localized disease can be treated with sun protection and topical agents. Antimalarials are the initial treatment of choice if systemic therapy is required. Patients with severe or unresponsive disease can also be treated with a number of other immunomodulating or immunosuppressive agents. Clinicians should be aware of their potential adverse effects and appropriate dosing.

Update on management of connective tissue panniculitides

In connective tissue diseases, panniculitis can be the sole manifestation or can occur along with the underlying disease process. The best described forms of connective tissue panniculitis are lupus erythematosus panniculitis and lupus profundus, panniculitis associated with dermatomyositis, and morphea- and scleroderma-associated panniculitis. These processes cause significant morbidity, such as deep atrophic scars, cosmetic disfigurement, and psychiatric sequelae. Because the inflammation is located in the subcutaneous adipose layer, topical therapies may not penetrate enough to be effective, and systemic agents are required. Despite the large number of reported cases and therapies, recommendations for treatment are based largely on case series and expert opinion due to a lack of controlled therapeutic trials. All treatments are off-label in the United States. The lack of validated clinical outcome measures makes systematic and controlled studies difficult. Nonetheless, further investigation into the most effective therapies for these conditions is needed.

Lupus erythematosus panniculitis in children: report of three cases and review of previously reported cases

Lupus erythematosus panniculitis (LEP) is a rare finding in children, with only 12 fully reported prior cases in the English literature. We describe three cases of LEP in children younger than 18 and compare them to previous cases reported in the literature. We examine laboratory tests performed, biopsy results, age at onset and diagnosis, presence or absence of systemic symptoms, and outcomes after treatment. It is unknown what the risk is of these patients developing future systemic lupus erythematosus. We also discuss the relevance of subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma, because the clinical and pathologic pictures are similar in presentation.

Intravenous immunoglobulin in lupus panniculitis

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a disease of unknown cause that may involve one or many organ or systems. Skin involvement is a major feature in this disease, and a wide variety of skin conditions may be present. Lupus erythematosus panniculitis (LEP) constitutes a rare form of cutaneous lupus characterized by recurrent nodular or plaque lesions that can vary from a benign and mild course to a more disfiguring disease. Initial therapy includes corticosteroids, antimalarials, and azathioprine and, in refractory cases, two antimalarials in association, mycophenolate mofetil, or other immunomodulators. Intravenous immuglobulin (IVIG) is used in many autoimmune disorders, like in SLE, although clinical trials have not yet taken place. In this report, we review skin manifestations of SLE and their treatment, IVIG, and finally a case of LEP successfully treated with IVIG when other therapy modalities failed.

Cutaneous lupus erythematosus: issues in diagnosis and treatment

Cutaneous lupus erythematosus (LE) may present in a variety of clinical forms. Three recognized subtypes of cutaneous LE are acute cutaneous LE (ACLE), subacute cutaneous LE (SCLE), and chronic cutaneous LE (CCLE). ACLE may be localized (most often as a malar or 'butterfly' rash) or generalized. Multisystem involvement as a component of systemic LE (SLE) is common, with prominent musculoskeletal symptoms. SCLE is highly photosensitive, with predominant distribution on the upper back, shoulders, neck, and anterior chest. SCLE is frequently associated with positive anti-Ro antibodies and may be induced by a variety of medications. Classic discoid LE is the most common form of CCLE, with indurated scaly plaques on the scalp, face, and ears, with characteristic scarring and pigmentary change. Less common forms of CCLE include hyperkeratotic LE, lupus tumidus, lupus profundus, and chilblain lupus. Common cutaneous disease associated with, but not specific for, LE includes vasculitis, livedo reticularis, alopecia, digital manifestations such as periungual telangiectasia and Raynaud phenomenon, photosensitivity, and bullous lesions. The clinical presentation of each of these forms, their diagnosis, and the inter-relationships between cutaneous LE and SLE are discussed. Common systemic findings in SLE are reviewed, as are diagnostic strategies, including histopathology, immunopathology, serology, and other laboratory findings. Treatments for cutaneous LE initially include preventive (e.g. photoprotective) strategies and topical therapies (corticosteroids and topical calcineurin inhibitors). For skin disease not controlled with these interventions, oral antimalarial agents (most commonly hydroxychloroquine) are often beneficial. Additional systemic therapies may be subdivided into conventional treatments (including corticosteroids, methotrexate, thalidomide, retinoids, dapsone, and azathioprine) and newer immunomodulatory therapies (including efalizumab, anti-tumor necrosis factor agents, intravenous immunoglobulin, and rituximab). We review evidence for the use of these medications in the treatment of cutaneous LE.

Clinical utility of computed tomographic scanning for the evaluation of lupus profundus in two patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Lupus profundus is a rare lupus-specific skin lesion with skin biopsies exhibiting lobular lymphocytic infiltration and destruction of subcutaneous fat tissue. In this report, a CT scan was effective in demonstrating both the presence and the extent of inflammation of lupus profundus in two patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Case 1 was a 30-year-old woman developing erythema with subcutaneous induration on the upper arms during the quiescent phase of SLE. A skin biopsy confirmed a diagnosis of lupus profundus. A CT scan of the right upper arm demonstrated a high density area (HDA) of the subcutis under the erythema: a finding consistent with lupus profundus. Case 2 was a 28-year-old woman recently diagnosed with SLE. She also developed a skin ulcer on the right hip. A CT scan of the hip revealed an HDA and lipoatrophy of the subcutis around the ulcer: these findings were compatible with lupus profundus. Treatment with high-dose prednisolone improved the illness in the both cases. A CT scan is a useful and convenient imaging modality for confirming the diagnosis of lupus profundus.

The dynamism of cutaneous lupus erythematosus: mild discoid lupus erythematosus evolving into SLE with SCLE and treatment-resistant lupus panniculitis

We present a 47-year-old Caucasian female who initially presented with mild discoid lupus erythematosus that evolved into systemic lupus erythematosus with subacute cutaneous LE and treatment-recalcitrant lupus panniculitis. Conventional therapy with antimalarials, systemic steroids, azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and pulse doses of methylprednisolone did not control the course of the disease. Cyclosporin-A treatment led to clinical improvement and maintained remission.

Panniculite lupique

Lupus panniculitis is characterized by a T-cell lymphocyte infiltration of the fat, with fibrosing and cicatricial progression. The lesions are predominantly found on the head and the upper part of the body; they are more frequent in young women. Diagnosis is based on the integration of the clinical and histological data, which renders a deep cutaneous biopsy indispensable. Histopathology is the key to the differential diagnosis, which essentially includes subcutaneous T-cell lymphoma. The lupus panniculitis lesions can be isolated or, more often, integrated within a known lupus disease, usually of good prognosis. Treatment relies above all on synthetic anti-malarials, occasionally associated with local or general corticosteroids.

Cutaneous lupus erythematosus: a review

This article will review and update information about the pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of cutaneous lupus erythematosus. Lupus erythematosus (LE) can present as a skin eruption, with or without systemic disease. Cutaneous LE is subdivided into chronic cutaneous LE, subacute cutaneous LE and acute LE. The prevalence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is 17-48/100,000 population worldwide. Skin disease is one of the most frequent clinical complaints of patients suffering from SLE. It has been found to occur in up to 70% of patients during the course of the disease. The most frequent mucocutaneous manifestations of SLE are malar rash (40%), alopecia (24%), and oral ulcers (19%). It has been suggested that risk factors that are more likely to signal transition of cutaneous into systemic LE are high ANA titers (> 1:320) and the presence of arthralgias. CLE patients who exhibit these symptoms should be monitored closely, since they may be at increased risk to develop SLE.