Thalidomide Treatment of Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus

Thalidomide was effective in 98% of patients with refractory CLE.

Although thalidomide has been reported to be useful for treating refractory cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE), reports of its toxicity have limited its use in many clinical practices.

Investigators of this open-label study examined response to thalidomide in 60 patients treated over an 18-year period and measured disease activity with the validated cutaneous lupus erythematosus disease area and severity index (CLASI) scoring system. Most patients had either discoid LE lesions or subacute CLE, but the study also included patients with acute CLE, tumid LE, or chilblain LE and one patient with pyoderma gangrenosum. Patients received 100 mg of thalidomide nightly. One patient was unable to tolerate the therapy. Clinical response occurred in 58…

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)