Alopecia Secondary to Severe Discoid Lupus Responding to Anifrolumab
July 2023
in “
International Journal of Women’s Dermatology
”
TLDR Anifrolumab significantly improved skin lesions and hair regrowth in severe discoid lupus.
Anifrolumab (ANI), a human monoclonal antibody targeting type I interferon receptor subunit 1, has shown promise in treating refractory discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE), a condition that can cause irreversible scarring and significantly impact quality of life. In a case study of a 21-year-old woman with severe DLE and alopecia, ANI treatment led to significant improvement in cutaneous lesions and impressive hair regrowth within 7 months, despite the ineffectiveness of prior therapies. ANI's favorable side effect profile and potential for better medication adherence make it a viable therapeutic option for patients with severe or treatment-resistant DLE. Future studies could explore the early use of ANI monotherapy to avoid the adverse effects associated with traditional treatments.