Successful Treatment of Terbinafine-Induced Subacute Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus With Upadacitinib

Drug-induced subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (DI-SCLE) is now the most common form of drug-induced lupus erythematosus (DI-LE). Terbinafine is a well-established DI-SCLE trigger and most cases resolve with traditional therapies, such as topical and oral steroids. However, some cases may be more persistent and refractory to these treatments, or patients may be unable to tolerate systemic steroid use due to underlying conditions. These challenges highlight the limitations of conventional therapies, underscoring the need for alternative treatments in difficult to treat or protracted cases. This report presents a case of terbinafine-induced SCLE that was unresponsive to systemic steroids and quickly resolved with a short course of upadacitinib, an oral selective JAK-1 inhibitor.