Mycophenolate Mofetil Is Useful for Antimalarial-Resistant Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus

With long-term therapy, response was durable in most patients.

Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) has been reported effective for cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) in individual patients or in small case series. Generally well tolerated, MMF is more expensive than azathioprine, another agent used to treat CLE. One small, prospective study demonstrated the efficacy of mycophenolate sodium for subacute CLE (SCLE), but another trial (Clin Exp Rheumatol 2005; 23:393) showed no benefit with MMF, although the studied dosage may have been inadequate.

In the current study, investigators retrospectively analyzed the efficacy of MMF in 24 patients with various types of CLE refractory to antimalarial therapy: 19 with discoid LE (DLE); 3 with SCLE, 1 with DLE/SCLE, and 1 with tumid LE. Patients received MMF in addition …

Reviewing Author

Jeffrey P. Callen, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory board XOMA; Eli Lilly; Celgene

Equity Various trust accounts

Editorial boards JAMA Dermatology; UpToDate

Leadership positions in professional societies Association of Professors of Dermatology (President-Elect)