Incidence of chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus in French Guiana: a retrospective population-based study.
OBJECTIVE
To retrospectively study the incidence of chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CCLE) in French Guiana (FG), South America, during the period 1995-1999.


METHODS
Private and public physicians specializing in dermatology, rheumatology, and internal medicine were asked during the year 2000 about lupus cases. We reviewed hospitals' files in data-processing departments.


RESULTS
Twenty new cases of CCLE, mostly discoid form, were identified during this 5-year period in this population of predominantly African descent. The average annual incidence of the disease was 2.59 per 100,000 inhabitants (95% confidence interval 1.5-4). However, our methodology could introduce underestimation of the incidence of the disease.


CONCLUSIONS
The average annual incidence of CCLE in FG appears to be low in this retrospective study, but is very similar to the only previously published data in the US.
Deligny
Christophe
C
Centre Régional de Compétences Maladies Autoimmunes Rares, Centre Hospitalier la Meynard, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Fort de France, BP, Fort de France Cedex, France. christophe.deligny@chu-fortdefrance.fr
Clyti
Emmanuel
E
Sainte-Marie
Dominique
D
Couppie
Pierre
P
Huong
Du Lê Thi
du LT
Piette
Jean Charles
JC
Arfi
Serge
S
Pradinaud
Roger
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005616:French Guiana / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008179:Lupus Erythematosus, Discoid / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult