Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Discoid Lupus Erythematosus
March 2009
in “
The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine
”
Studysummary This article reviews current diagnostic and treatment approaches for discoid lupus erythematosus, emphasizing the importance of early treatment and photoprotection, but reports no new clinical findings.
Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is a chronic skin disease that can cause scarring, hair loss, and hyperpigmentation if not treated early. Early diagnosis and treatment improve outcomes, typically made through clinical examination and sometimes confirmed with histopathology. Effective treatment options include photoprotective measures, potent topical steroids, and antimalarials. For cases resistant to standard therapy, alternatives like retinoids, thalidomide, topical tacrolimus, and immunosuppressives (azathioprine, cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil, methotrexate) are available.
