Vol.19 No.4

Case Report

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

Authors

Eiji Suzuki1 , Hyo Kyozuka1 , Toru Nishida2 , Takashi Kanno1 , Hiromasa Ohira3

  • Division of Rheumatology, Ohta-Nishinouchi Hospital, 2-5-20 Nishinouchi, Koriyama Fukushima, 963-8022, Japan
  • Division of Dermatology, Ohta-Nishinouchi Hospital, 2-5-20 Nishinouchi, Koriyama Fukushima, 963-8022, Japan
  • Department of Internal Medicine II, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima Fukushima, 960-1295, Japan
Received:

25 February 2009

Accepted:

12 May 2009

Published online:

6 June 2009

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Abstract

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.

Key words

Bosentan - Endothelin - Pulmonary hypertension (PH) - Skin ulcer - Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)