Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus
Conditions
Keywords
Cutaneous lupus erythematosus, Tacrolimus ointment, Topical treatment, Skin lesions
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of topical tacrolimus in different subtypes of cutaneous lupus erythematosus. As shown by several groups activated memory T lymphocytes play a key role in the pathogenesis of lupus erythematosus. Tacrolimus targets T lymphocytes and suppresses their activation by inhibiting the expression of cytokine genes, such as IL-2. Therefore, treatment of cutaneous lupus erythematosus with topical tacrolimus might result in an improvement of skin lesions in such patients.
Detailed description
In patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE), topical corticosteroids are the mainstay of treatment; however, a long-term use can lead to numerous side effects including skin atrophy. Recently, topical tacrolimus has been suggested to be effective in patients with different manifestations of CLE as single or additive therapy. Its anti-inflammatory effect can be explained by inhibition of calcineurin and suppression of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukins-2, -3, -4, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and tumour necrosis factor alpha. In this study, we evaluate the efficacy of tacrolimus in 30 patients with different forms of CLE (ACLE, SCLE, DLE, LET). During a period of 3 months tacrolimus ointment and its placebo are applied on two separate skin lesions. Clinical follow-up examinations including photo documentation are performed every 4 weeks.
Interventions
DRUGTacrolimus ointment
Sponsors
Heinrich-Heine University, Duesseldorf
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Cutaneous lupus erythematosus confirmed by histological analysis * Topical use of glucocorticosteroids stopped at least two weeks before the start of the study * Presence of two primary skin lesions with a clinical score ≥ 1 * Written informed consent available prior to any screening procedures
Exclusion criteria
* Systemic medication if taken for lupus erythematosus (e.g. chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine) started at least 6 months prior to the beginning of the study * Women of childbearing potential using inadequate birth control measures * Pregnancy and lactation * Known hypersensitivity to tacrolimus or any of the excipients * Patients receiving systemic immunosuppressive drugs and cytotoxic agents other than antimalarial agents
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Difference in skin lesions of patients with CLE before (begin of study) and after treatment (end of study) evaluated by a clinical score | — |
Countries
Germany
Outcome results
None listed