title: Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus: a cutaneous marker for a distinct lupus erythematosus subset.
abstract: We have characterized the clinical and laboratory features of 27 patients who had in common a recurring, superficial, nonscarring type of cutaneous lupus erythematosus (LE) that occurred in a characteristic distribution (subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus [SCLE]). This clinically distinct form of cutaneous LE has not previously been analyzed as a separate entity and thus, its clinical importance has not been fully appreciated. We found that these patients frequently had a mild systemic illness marked by musculoskeletal complaints and serologic abnormalities. Forty-eight percent had systemic LE by American Rheumatism Association criteria; however, none had serious CNS or renal disease. Thus, those with SCLE are a subset of patients with LE who generally have an illness intermediate in severity between discoid LE and severe systemic LE.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005447:Fluocinonide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006886:Hydroxychloroquine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008179:Lupus Erythematosus, Discoid / Q000175:diagnosis; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D005447:Fluocinonide; D006886:Hydroxychloroquine; D003520:Cyclophosphamide