title: Cutaneous lupus erythematosus: a review.
abstract: This article will review and update information about the pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of cutaneous lupus erythematosus. Lupus erythematosus (LE) can present as a skin eruption, with or without systemic disease. Cutaneous LE is subdivided into chronic cutaneous LE, subacute cutaneous LE and acute LE. The prevalence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is 17-48/100,000 population worldwide. Skin disease is one of the most frequent clinical complaints of patients suffering from SLE. It has been found to occur in up to 70% of patients during the course of the disease. The most frequent mucocutaneous manifestations of SLE are malar rash (40%), alopecia (24%), and oral ulcers (19%). It has been suggested that risk factors that are more likely to signal transition of cutaneous into systemic LE are high ANA titers (> 1:320) and the presence of arthralgias. CLE patients who exhibit these symptoms should be monitored closely, since they may be at increased risk to develop SLE.
authors.affiliation: University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Purvisha
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Werth
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008178:Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008179:Lupus Erythematosus, Discoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D012307:Risk Factors