TOPICAL 5-FLUOROURACIL IN THE TREATMENT OF DISCOID LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS - PRELIMINARY-STUDY OVER 2 YEARS

To our knowledge, no trial has so far been performed of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in the treatment of discoid lupus erythematosus. This open lab el study was carried out in 12 patients (5 males and 7 females, aged 2 0 to 47 years) to assess the short- and long-term efficacy and tolerab ility of a daily application of an ointment containing 5% 5-FU, The st udy was started in October 1993 when the disease was at a high degree of activity following summer sunlight exposure. After a 4- to 24-week treatment period, full remission was achieved in all patients. Healing resulted in cosmetically acceptable dyschromic and/or atrophic change s. During the summers 1994 and 1995, exacerbation of preexisting lesio ns and appearance of new lesions were observed in eight and two patien ts, respectively. However, remission of these lesions was obtained wit h a short course of therapy. The overall tolerability of the treatment was good or excellent in all patients. On the basis of the results of this preliminary study, topical 5-FU seems to be a promising therapeu tic agent which might be introduced in the routine management of cutan eous lupus erythematosus.