Clinical efficacy of chloroquine diphosphate in the treatment of discoid lupus erythematosus

Abstract

Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is the most common clinical type of chronic cutaneous Lupus erythematosus (СLE). In the absence of a timely diagnosis and treatment, it may cause scarring and skin atrophy. The aim of the treatment is a fast and efficient reduction of the inflammatory process. We present a case of a DLE patient who was successfully treated with chloroquine diphosphate (CD). A 25-year-old woman presented with ruby-red plaques over the face, forehead, nose, cheeks, chin that merged into a butterfly-shaped rash around the nose and zygomatic arches. Treatment with СD (250 mg twice a day for two months) resulted rapidly effective with persistent efficacy and led to the almost complete clearance of cutaneous lesions. However, the treatment was discontinued due to visual disturbances.