The authors describe a case of 43-year-old Caucasian women with the bullous form of annular subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus resistant to systemic therapy with immunosuppressive agents, antimalarials and sulfones. Administration of oral aromatic retinoids (acitretin) led to control of the skin manifestations of the disease. The role of retinoids in the treatment of cutaneous lupus erythematosus, side-effects and monitoring are discussed.

        Key words: bullous subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus, retinoids