Lupus erythematosus and vitamin E: an effective and nontoxic therapy.

Despite conflicting opinions, our personal experience and a number of reviewed clinical reports indicate that vitamin E, properly administered in adequate doses, is a safe and effective treatment for chronic discoid lupus erythematosus, and may be of value in treating other types of the disease. A possible mechanism leading to the development of autoimmune diseases, including lupus erythematosus, is discussed, together with a rational approach aimed at the cellular level, rather than at attacking the body's immune defenses, which could lead to increased susceptibility to malignant and infectious diseases.