Bullous systemic lupus erythematosus successfully treated with rituximab

Cutis. 2019 Jun;103(6):E5-E7.

Abstract

Bullous systemic lupus erythematosus (BSLE) is a rare complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) characterized by cutaneous vesicles and bullae with a primarily neutrophilic infiltrate on histopathology. Bullous SLE is a heterogeneous disease without pathognomonic clinical features, making the diagnosis and differentiation from other blistering diseases challenging. We present the case of a single patient with SLE in whom 3 different clinical appearances of BSLE manifested over 5 years. The cutaneous eruption dramatically improved with rituximab at the initial presentation and continued to respond to rituximab during subsequent flares over the subsequent 5 years.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors / administration & dosage
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / diagnosis
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / drug therapy*
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / pathology
  • Rituximab / administration & dosage*
  • Skin / pathology
  • Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous / diagnosis
  • Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous / drug therapy*
  • Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous / etiology
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Immunologic Factors
  • Rituximab