Discoid Lupus Erythematosus of the Scalp and a Trial of Biologic Therapy With Raptiva

The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy of Raptiva (efalizumab) in the treatment of discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE). Discoid lupus erythematosus is a chronic disorder, which may lead to permanent and progressive loss of hair. Lupus is a condition of chronic inflammation cause by an autoimmune disease. Autoimmune diseases are illnesses which occur when the body's tissues are attacked by its own immune system. The immune system is a complex system within the body that is designed to fight infectious agents, for example, bacteria, and other foreign invaders. One of the mechanisms that the immune system uses to fight infections is the production of antibodies. Patients with lupus produce abnormal antibodies in their blood that target tissues within their own body rather than foreign infectious agents. Lupus can cause disease of the skin, heart, lungs, kidneys, joints, and nervous system. When only the skin is involved, the condition is called discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE). Raptiva (efalizumab) is a humanized immunoglobulin(a protein extract from blood which fights off infection-sometimes called "antibody"), which targets the immune cells that are activated in inflammation. Raptiva has been approved for use in the management of psoriasis at doses of 1mg/kg, but is not approved for the treatment of DLE.