Systemic lupus erythematosus, complicated with refractory skin ulcers, treated successfully with bosentan

• Published in: Modern rheumatology Vol. 19; no. 4; pp. 447 - 451
• Main Authors: Suzuki, Eiji, Kyozuka, Hyo, Nishida, Toru, Kanno, Takashi, Ohira, Hiromasa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan Springer Japan 01.08.2009; Informa Healthcare
• Subjects: Adult; Antihypertensive Agents - therapeutic use; Case Report; Case studies; Drug therapy; Extremities - pathology; Female; Humans; Hypertension; Hypertension, Pulmonary - drug therapy; Hypertension, Pulmonary - etiology; Hypertension, Pulmonary - pathology; Lupus; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - complications; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - drug therapy; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - pathology; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Orthopedics; Pulmonary arteries; Rheumatology; Skin; Skin Ulcer - drug therapy; Skin Ulcer - etiology; Skin Ulcer - pathology; Sulfonamides - therapeutic use; Treatment Outcome; Ulcers; Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE); Bosentan; Endothelin; Pulmonary hypertension (PH); Skin ulcer
• ISSN: 1439-7595; 1439-7609
• DOI: 10.1007/s10165-009-0184-y

A 20-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of bilateral pretibial edema. Administration of prednisolone was started after she was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, skin ulcers on her extremities developed; they subsequently worsened with tapering of prednisolone. She also developed pulmonary hypertension (PH). Her skin ulcers improved considerably after administration of bosentan, an endothelin receptor antagonist. Bosentan may be efficacious not only for PH but also for refractory skin ulcers.