Refractory subacute cutaneous lupus erythematous responding to a single course of belimumab: a new anti-BLyS human monoclonal antibody.

Sir, Subcutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease which includes a variety of specific skin lesions involving the upper portion of back and chest that, in certain cases, may be disfiguring. The relapsing and remitting pattern of this condition along with the clinical heterogeneity makes SCLE a challenge to manage. Despite clear advances in the understanding of this condition, certain patients are refractory to conventional drugs. Belimumab is a human monoclonal antibody approved by the FDA in March 2011 for SLE with active disease despite standard treatments.[1] This agent is the first in a new class of drugs known as B‐lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS)‐specific inhibitors. We report a case of treatment‐resistant SCLE showing a satisfactory long‐term response to belimumab infusion.