Synthetic antimalarial drug therapy in lupus erythematosus and polymorphous light eruptions.

The therapeutic efficacy of the synthetic antimalarial agents in lupus erythematosus and the polymorphous light eruptions is well established. Severe toxic reactions are rare but mild disturbances are relatively common. Although gold therapy probably is as effective in discoid lupus erythematosus, the antimalarials are easier to administer and cause fewer serious side effects. The mechanism of action of these drugs is poorly understood although definite anti-inflammatory properties have been noted. Perhaps further investigations of known biological processes such as free radical formation and neutralization, redox potential alterations or enzymatic changes may shed more light on this problem.