Can Dermoscopy Be a Useful Follow-Up Tool in Patients with Discoid Lupus Treated with Anifrolumab?
Francesca Ambrogio,
Caterina Foti,
Silvia Noviello,
Gerardo Cazzato,
Alexandre Raphael Meduri,
Carolina Marasco,
Angelo Vacca,
Benedetta Tirone
Affiliations
Francesca Ambrogio
Section of Dermatology and Venereology, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
Caterina Foti
Section of Dermatology and Venereology, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
Silvia Noviello
Internal Medicine ‘Guido Baccelli’, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, AUOC Policlinico di Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy
Gerardo Cazzato
Section of Molecular Pathology, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70121 Bari, Italy
Alexandre Raphael Meduri
Section of Dermatology and Venereology, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
Carolina Marasco
Internal Medicine ‘Guido Baccelli’, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, AUOC Policlinico di Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy
Angelo Vacca
Internal Medicine ‘Guido Baccelli’, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, AUOC Policlinico di Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy
Benedetta Tirone
Section of Dermatology and Venereology, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
This report discusses a female patient with longstanding discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), refractory to multiple immunosuppressive and biologic treatments. Upon presenting with infiltrated, hypertrophic plaques in facial and décolletage regions, she was started on anifrolumab therapy after the histopathological confirmation of DLE. Following three infusions, significant clinical and dermoscopic improvements were observed, including the resolution of plaques and regression of scarring areas. This case highlights anifrolumab’s efficacy in severe lupus skin manifestations, emphasizing its potential to induce dermoscopic and histological remission. Additionally, it suggests that dermoscopy could be a valuable tool for monitoring therapeutic responses in DLE and cutaneous lupus erythematosus, warranting further investigation.
