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Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Skin Biopsy for Diagnosing Discoid Lupus Erythematosus
Published on: June 10, 2025
[Systemic treatment of cutaneous lupus erythematosus]
Joerg Wenzel1, Thomas Bieber, Manfred Uerlich
1Klinik und Poliklinik für Dermatologie, Universitätsklinikum Bonn. joerg.wenzel@ukb.uni-bonn.de
Abstract:
The treatment of cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) remains a therapeutic challenge. In many cases, systemic treatment of the disease is necessary, especially in cases resistant to topical treatment or with internal organ involvement. Even though many different agents can be employed in this situation, most are not approved in Germany for the treatment of CLE. We give an overview of the agents used in the systemic treatment of CLE and review their mechanisms of action, indications and their practical use in cutaneous LE based on literature results and our own experience. We discuss corticosteroids, antimalarials, dapsone, azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, retinoids, cyclosporine A, mycophenolate mofetil, sulfasalazine, thalidomide, clofazimine, tacrolimus, immunoglobulins, monoclonal antibodies, plasmapheresis, etanercept, infliximab, feflunomid, gold and interferon-alpha.
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