Childhood discoid lupus erythematosus.
BACKGROUND
Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is uncommon in childhood. Less than 2% of patients with DLE develop the disease before 10 years of age.


METHODS
We present eight cases of childhood DLE with onset before age 10 years: four black boys with cutaneous DLE, three black girls ages 7, 2, and 6 years at onset, who developed systemic lupus erythematosus at ages 12, 9, and 8 years, respectively, and a 10-year-old Hispanic boy who had a systemic flare at the age of 20 years.


CONCLUSIONS
A review of the 16 published cases of childhood DLE reveals that it is similar to its adult counterpart in its presentation and chronic course. However, several important differences are noted: a lack of female predominance, a low incidence of photosensitivity, and frequent progression to systemic lupus erythematosus at an early age. A discussion of the management of DLE in children is also presented.
George
P M
PM
Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Md.
Tunnessen
W W
WW
D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008179:Lupus Erythematosus, Discoid / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis