Alopecias in Lupus Erythematosus

October 2018 in “ Lupus Science & Medicine ”

Josef Symon S. Concha, Victoria P. Werth

lupus erythematosus systemic lupus erythematosus SLE discoid lupus erythematosus DLE scarring alopecia non-scarring alopecia lupus hair alopecia areata histopathology direct immunofluorescence DIF serological tests lupus scarring hair loss non-scarring hair loss

TLDR Different types of hair loss in lupus need careful diagnosis for proper treatment.

The document from October 2018 examines the different types of hair loss in lupus erythematosus (LE), emphasizing the need to differentiate between hair loss that is specific to LE and that which is not related to the disease. It notes that over 80% of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients experience skin symptoms, including hair loss in more than half of the cases. Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is identified as the most common LE-specific scarring alopecia. The paper stresses the importance of histopathology, direct immunofluorescence (DIF), and serological tests for accurate diagnosis, and suggests a multidisciplinary approach for patients with unclear causes of hair loss. It also discusses non-scarring alopecias in LE, such as 'lupus hair' and alopecia areata, and the importance of distinguishing these from other hair loss conditions. The document concludes that thorough evaluation using various diagnostic tools is essential for proper classification and management of alopecia in LE patients.

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