Cutaneous manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

We have assessed the cutaneous signs in 73 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), seen during a 5-year period in an English hospital. Most previous information about the cutaneous manifestations of SLE has been obtained from studies performed in the U.S.A. We classified lesions as specific cutaneous and mucosal LE (acute, subacute and chronic) or non-specific LE-related, e.g. photosensitivity, urticaria, erythema, Raynaud's phenomenon or vasculitis. Acute cutaneous LE lesions included a butterfly rash with erythematous macules, telangiectasia or papulosquamous lesions, seen in 37 patients (51%) and facial oedema seen in four patients (5%). Five patients (7%) had psoriasiform subacute cutaneous LE. Chronic cutaneous LE was common: 18 patients (25%) had chronic discoid lesions (DLE) and, in 12 (15%), these had preceded systemic disease. One patient had facial lupus profundus. Ten patients (14%) had scarring alopecia secondary to DLE. Fifteen patients (20.5%) had chronic chilblain lupus. Twenty-three patients (31.5%) had a history of mouth ulceration. Of these, 11 (15%) gave a history of ulcers at the onset of their disease. Three (4%) had erythema and superficial ulceration of the palate, not typical of aphthous ulcers, and three (4%) had chronic buccal plaques. Cheilitis due to DLE was seen in three (4%), episcleritis in three (4%), five (7%) had nasal disease, six (8%) bullous skin eruptions, one 'the bullous eruption of SLE', four bullae associated with cutaneous vasculitis, and one bullae associated with ultraviolet radiation. Forty-six (63%) observed photosensitivity. A non-scarring alopecia occurred in 29 (40%). Vascular phenomena were common: three patients (4%) had chronic palmar erythema, Raynaud's phenomenon occurred in 44 patients (60%), chronic urticaria, worsened by sun exposure, was noted by 32 (44%) (in whom the lesions often lasted more than 36 h), eight (11%) had cutaneous vasculitis and three (4%) livedo reticularis. Skin changes play a prominent part in SLE and may provide helpful diagnostic information. In this British population, chilblains and urticaria were particularly common. Lesions of subacute cutaneous LE were relatively unusual in this group of patients with SLE.

Feasibility and validity were demonstrated of an online case–control study using the prototype of recent-onset systemic lupus erythematosus

“…We used the matched case-control data set to assess the construct validity of our study design. We tested for associations with a panel of factors documented in prior studies to be associated with SLE, including herpes zoster [6,7,34,35], urticaria [6,9], allergy to sulfonamides [10][11][12], and miscarriage [5]. Our analyses demonstrated associations that were consistent with prior studies and showed strong concordance with respect to effect size.…”

“…Participants completed an online questionnaire about demographic factors, medications, comorbidities, common exposures, and a panel of factors consistently associated with SLE (miscarriage [5], shingles [6][7][8], hives [6,9], and allergy to sulfonamides [10][11][12][13]). We used standardized questions derived from previous studies [2,14].…”

A Clinical Study of Pattern of Skin Manifestations in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Attending Dermatology Opd in a Tertiary Care Centre

“…[7] Yell JA et al 31.5%. [8] In our study, the frequency of malar rash was 55.26%, while in study by Kole et al 80%. [2] , Parveen et al 70%.…”

“…[7] Yell JA et al 51%. [8] , Gronhagen CM et al 60%. [9] In our study the frequency of photosensitivity was 55.26%, while in study by Kole et al 50%.…”

Lúpus eritematoso na infância: estudo retrospectivo com ênfase em suas manifestações cutâneas, classificação e evolução

“…O acometimento cutâneo é uma das manifestações mais comuns do lúpus eritematoso sistêmico (LES) que auxilia no diagnóstico e, muitas vezes, é a apresentação inicial da doença (Yell et al, 1996). Algumas dessas manifestações fazem parte dos 11 critérios diagnósticos estabelecidos pelo American College of Rheumatology (Anexo B) (Tan et al, 1982;Hochberg, 1997).…”