title: Lupus erythematosus tumidus: a unique disease entity.
abstract: Lupus erythematosus tumidus (LET) is a photosensitive skin disease characterized by succulent, edematous, and non-scarring plaques. Histologic features include perivascular and periadnexal lymphocytic infiltration and interstitial mucin deposition. Despite being first described in 1909, there are few case reports in the current literature describing this disease and even fewer that discuss treatment. We describe a case of a 22-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and secondary class V lupus nephritis. She was referred to Dermatology for an intermittent pruritic facial eruption that was clinically and histologically consistent with LET. There is much controversy in literature as to whether or not LET is a unique variant of cutaneous lupus erythematosus. Interestingly, the mainstay of treatment for LET, in the limited case reports and series that exist, is with antimalarial drugs, which our patient had already been taking for SLE. This case exemplifies the need for complete disease characterization, evidence-based treatment, and a multidisciplinary approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, HI (RS).
authors.forename: Rodger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stitt
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, HI (RS).
authors.forename: Colby
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fernelius
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, HI (RS).
authors.forename: Jefferson
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, HI (RS).
authors.forename: Troy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Denunzio
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, HI (RS).
authors.forename: Navin S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Arora
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008178:Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000175:diagnosis; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Lupus erythematosus tumidus; cutaneous lupus erythematosus; lupus nephritis; systemic lupus erythematosus