Management of Patients with Coexistent Psoriasis and Lupus Erythematosus

Carefully assess the activity of each disease when administering therapies for one that might exacerbate the other.

Psoriasis affects between 1% and 3% of the population; lupus erythematosus (LE) is less common. Both diseases are considered to be immunologically based, but their inflammatory mediators differ. Some therapies used for LE, namely antimalarial agents, have been linked to worsening psoriasis, and anti–tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapies that are effective for psoriasis have occasionally induced or exacerbated systemic or cutaneous LE. Thus, when a patient has both diseases, therapeutic choices need careful consideration.

These authors reviewed medical records of patients treated at two Boston institutions between 1990 and 2013. They identified 96 patients with coexistent LE (systemic [SLE] or cutaneous [CLE]) and psoriasis or psoriatic arthr…

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)