A case of terbinafine-induced subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus rapidly resolving with upadacitinib

Abstract

Drug-induced subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE) is a lupus-like cutaneous eruption without systemic features caused by insult from a range of chemically diverse culprit drugs. In cases where remission is not achieved with drug discontinuation, treatment options generally involve those used to treat idiopathic SCLE, including topical or systemic corticosteroids, antimalarials or immunosuppressive drugs. We present a patient with drug-induced SCLE secondary to terbinafine with a prolonged course after drug cessation, who did not respond to classical treatments, but demonstrated rapid and sustained improvement within 48 h of upadacitinib treatment.