title: Cutaneous lupus erythematosus of elbows: A distinct entity?
abstract: The elbow is not recognized as common site for cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) lesions. Twelve cases of CLE over the elbows were evaluated for systemic involvement and Cutaneous Lupus Disease Area and Severity Index activity and damage scores and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index scoring was done. Histopathological examination of the affected skin was performed in doubtful cases. Most of the patients were women (10, 83.3%) with mean age of 28.75 years. Three patients had only elbow lesions and the remaining nine patients had CLE lesions at sites other than the elbows, of which five had elbow lesions preceding skin lesions elsewhere over the body and three patients were not aware of whether elbow lesions preceded or succeeded CLE lesions at other sites, and one patient had noticed malar rash 9 months prior to elbow lesions. All the patients antinuclear antibody positivity, systemic involvement, and fulfilled criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus. This peculiar localization of CLE to the elbows may be associated with a greater risk of systemic involvement and may be an predictor of flare of LE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India.
authors.forename: Nidhi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India.
authors.forename: Laxmisha
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chandrashekar
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India.
authors.forename: Nava
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India.
authors.forename: Rakhee
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India.
authors.forename: Mary Theresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Sylvia
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India.
authors.forename: Devinder Mohan
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Thappa
keywords: Cutaneous lupus erythematosus; elbow; systemic lupus erythematosus