In an autoimmune disease, the immune system makes a mistake and fights our own body instead. The mistake made by the immune system in discoid lupus erythematosus is to view the cells in our skin as ‘foreign’ and to make antibodies that damage them. These antibodies that attack parts of our own body are called ‘autoantibodies’.
Retinoid drugs such as isotretinoin (Accutane), etretinate (Tegison), and acitretin (Soriatane) are some times used in resistant cases. Immunosuppressants such as Methotrexate and cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) may be used for potentially disabling cases.
Early reports do provide a good basis for further studies that are set up in a more scientific manner.