This study confirms the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, showing that it can even influence autoantibody titres. Hydroxychloroquine is an anti-malarial drug but is an excellent treatment option for cutaneous lupus. J Rheumatol. 2012 Aug 1. [Epub ahead of print] Hydroxychloroquine Use Is Associated with Lower Odds of Persistently Positive Antiphospholipid Antibodies and/or Lupus […]
Interesting research paper that suggests that light treatment (phototherapy), has no significant effect on autoantibody levels and does not induce photosensitive diseases like lupus. I remember one of my senior dermatologist colleagues being quite worried about administering phototherapy to patients with positive ANA antibodies of 1:640 (what is considered normal for approx 5% of the […]
Well if you haven’t had enough reason to stop smoking yet, this recent paper suggests a relationship between smoking and poor treatment response of patients with cutaneous lupus. It is not known whether smoking directly decreases the efficacy of hydroxycloroquine or whether smokers tend not to improve so well as they tend to be outdoors […]