Treatment of refractory subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus with efalizumab

We report the case of a 47-year-old woman who first presented with erythematous plaques on the upper portion of her right arm, which developed into an annular eruption involving the face, upper portion of the trunk, and limbs in a predominantly photosensitive distribution. Findings from histopathologic evaluation of a lesion from her arm were consistent with the clinical diagnosis of SCLE. After years of unsuccessful treatment with conventional medications for SCLE, she began therapy with efalizumab and experienced dramatic improvement in her cutaneous lesions after 6 weeks.