Influence of smoking on disease severity and antimalarial therapy in cutaneous lupus erythematosus: analysis of 1002 patients from the EUSCLE database

Summary Background In recent years it has been controversially discussed in the literature if smoking is associated with the activity of cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) and the efficacy of antimalarial agents. Objectives To investigate the influence of smoking on disease severity and antimalarial treatment in patients with CLE using the Core Set Questionnaire of the European Society of Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus (EUSCLE). Methods A total of 1002 patients (768 female, 234 male) with different CLE subtypes were included in this cross‐sectional study, which was performed in 14 different countries. Smoking behaviour was assessed by the EUSCLE Core Set Questionnaire in 838 patients and statistically analysed using an SPSS database. The results were correlated with the Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index (CLASI) and the efficacy of antimalarial treatment. Results A high percentage (87·2%) of the 499 patients with CLE, who have ever smoked, had already smoked at the date of their first diagnosis. Patients with intermittent CLE have ever smoked significantly more often than patients with subacute CLE (P