Cicatricial pemphigoid of the scalp mimicking discoid lupus erythematosus

Efficacy and safety of tetracyclines for pemphigoid: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The aim of this review was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tetracyclines for treatment of pemphigoid. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Ovid, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library for studies involving pemphigoid patients treated with tetracyclines published in English before 29 February 2020. References of included studies were also screened to widen the scope of the literature search. Data regarding predefined clinical outcomes of 341 patients from 77 studies were extracted and analyzed. A meta-analysis was conducted on the basis of 4 studies including 2 randomized controlled trials and 2 comparative studies. The patients had a mean age of 74.60 ± 13.18 years, 45.4% were males, and 54.6% were females. There were 185 patients with mild-to-moderate and 143 patients with severe disease. The average initial doses were 1.62 ± 0.39 g/day for tetracycline, 0.20 ± 0.01 g/day for doxycycline, and 0.11 ± 0.05 g/day for minocycline. The average time on tetracyclines was 3.74 ± 5.99 months, and 261 (81.3%) patients reported partial or complete remission. Relapses occurred in 72 (28.3%) cases. Adverse effects were experienced by 130 (41.9%) patients. The pooled ORs for short-term effectiveness, relapse, adverse effects, and 1-year survival in patients treated with oral tetracyclines vs. systemic corticosteroids were 0.40 (95% CI, 0.22-0.76), 0.69 (95% CI, 0.44-1.10), 0.47 (95% CI, 0.27-0.82) and 2.02 (95% CI, 1.16-3.50), respectively. Compared to doxycycline and minocycline, tetracycline was significantly associated with better treatment outcomes and fewer adverse effects (p < 0.05). This review revealed tetracyclines' efficacy and safety in pemphigoid treatment and may offer support for clinical use of tetracyclines in pemphigoid.

Alopecias in lupus erythematosus

Several patterns of hair loss can occur in lupus erythematosus (LE). Alopecias which show histological characteristics of LE are LE-specific, and include discoid LE (DLE), diffuse or patchy hair loss in acute LE, subacute cutaneous LE, and rarely tumid LE. Lupus hair in SLE is a poorly characterised entity and may be a form of telogen effluvium. Alopecia areata can coexist with LE and may mimic DLE. Non-lupus alopecias such as telogen effluvium and anagen effluvium have a myriad of causes which include disease flares, drugs and stress in the setting of LE. The latest validated Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics classification criteria for SLE includes non-scarring alopecia as a criterion; therefore, recognising the aetiology of hair loss in the setting of LE is crucial in classifying a patient to have systemic disease.

Spectrum of orocutaneous disease associations: Immune-mediated conditions

There are a number of diseases that manifest both on the skin and the oral mucosa, and therefore the importance for dermatologists in clinical practice to be aware of these associations is paramount. In the following continuing medical education series, we outline orocutaneous disease associations with both immunologic and inflammatory etiologies.

Lupus mimickers

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by multisystem organ involvement, heterogeneity of clinical features, and variety in degree of severity. The differential diagnosis is a crucial aspect in SLE as many other autoimmune diseases portray clinical similarities and autoantibody positivity. Lupus mimickers refer to a group of conditions that exhibit both clinical features and laboratory characteristics, including autoantibody profiles that resemble those present in patients with SLE, and prompt a diagnostic challenge in everyday clinical practice. Thus, lupus mimickers may present as a lupus-like condition (i.e., 2 or 3 criteria) or as one meeting the classification criteria for SLE. Herein we review and classify the current literature on lupus mimickers based on diverse etiologies which include infections, malign and benign neoplasms, medications, and vaccine-related reactions.

Mucous membrane pemphigoid

Mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) is chronic and frequently associated with exacerbations and remissions of clinical signs and symptoms. Clinicians should use pathologic and immunonologic techniques to help diagnose patients. Multidisciplinary collaboration is often necessary for the diagnosis and proper treatment of MMP. Systemic adjuvant immunosuppressive therapy is necessary for patients with progressive disease. In spite of the advances in available immunosuppressive medications and biologics, scarring is a significant complication in many cases. Surgical intervention is not curable; however, it may be necessary for restoring function and improving quality of life.