Lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue in many parts of the body. Common symptoms include painful, swollen joints; fever; chest pain; hair loss; mouth ulcers; swollen lymph nodes; fatigue; and a red rash, most often on the face. Women of childbearing age are affected about nine times more often than men. It most commonly begins between the ages of 15 and 45.
The cause of lupus erythematosus is not clear. Among identical twins, if one is affected, there is a 24% chance the other will be as well. Female sex hormones, sunlight, smoking, vitamin D deficiency, and certain infections are also believed to increase the risk.
Treatment options may include NSAIDs, corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, hydroxychloroquine, and methotrexate. Although corticosteroids are effective, long‑term use can cause side effects.
Lupus erythematosus is a collection of autoimmune diseases in which the human immune system becomes hyperactive and attacks healthy tissues. Symptoms of these diseases can affect many different body systems, including joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, heart, and lungs. The most common and most severe form is systemic lupus erythematosus.
Unlike this photo, the disorder is more commonly seen on the face than on the torso.
It appears as a slightly purplish erythema.
The butterfly rash that typically appears on the face.
It typically appears on sun‑exposed areas and resembles a scar.
Diagnostic challenges exist in better defining cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) as an independent disease distinct from systemic lupus erythematosus with cutaneous features and further classifying CLE based on clinical, histological, and laboratory features. Recent mechanistic studies revealed more genetic variations, environmental triggers, and immunologic dysfunctions that are associated with CLE. Drug induction specifically has emerged as one of the most important triggers for CLE. Treatment options include topical agents and systemic therapies, including newer biologics such as belimumab, rituximab, ustekinumab, anifrolumab, and BIIB059 that have shown good clinical efficacy in trials.
Cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) encompasses a wide range of dermatologic manifestations, which may or may not be associated with the development of systemic disease. Cutaneous lupus is divided into several sub-types, including acute CLE (ACLE), sub-acute CLE (SCLE) and chronic CLE (CCLE). CCLE includes discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE), LE profundus (LEP), chilblain cutaneous lupus and lupus tumidus.
Lupus erythematosus comprises a spectrum of autoimmune diseases that may affect various organs (systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE]) or the skin only (cutaneous lupus erythematosus [CLE]). Typical combinations of clinical, histological and serological findings define clinical subtypes of CLE, yet there is high interindividual variation. Skin lesions arise in the course of triggers such as ultraviolet (UV) light exposure, smoking or drugs
The cause of lupus erythematosus is not clear. Among identical twins, if one is affected, there is a 24% chance the other will be as well. Female sex hormones, sunlight, smoking, vitamin D deficiency, and certain infections are also believed to increase the risk.
Treatment options may include NSAIDs, corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, hydroxychloroquine, and methotrexate. Although corticosteroids are effective, long‑term use can cause side effects.