[Use of oral isotretinoin in the treatment of cutaneous lupus erythematosus].

Twenty-four in- or out-patients (12 males and 12 females) with chronic cutaneous (CCLE) (n = 19) or subacute cutaneous (SCLE) (n = 5) lupus erythematosus have been treated with oral isotretinoin. The initial dose 0.15 mg/kg/day was progressively increased to a maximum of 0.50 mg/kg/day; the total treatment period was 16 weeks. One female patient with SCLE stopped the therapy for sudden fever. None of the other known side effects induced interruption of treatment. In 20 subjects (86.9%) isotretinoin therapy was associated with clearing or improvement of clinical lesions and histopathologic changes. Best responses with isotretinoin therapy was seen in patients with CCLE. No changes were observed in the laboratory parameters before, during, and at the end of the study. In the light of these results, isotretinoin can be considered as an effective and well-tolerated drug in the treatment of cutaneous lupus erythematosus.