Cutaneous Involvement in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Review for the Rheumatologist

    September 2022 in “ The Journal of Rheumatology ”
    Courtney Stull, Grant Sprow, Victoria P. Werth
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    TLDR Skin problems are common in lupus patients and should be treated early to prevent worsening.
    The document reviews the skin manifestations of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), a chronic autoimmune disease affecting 70% to 85% of patients. Skin diseases in SLE are classified as SLE-specific or SLE-nonspecific based on histopathologic findings. Acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (ACLE) occurs in 30-50% of SLE patients, often flaring with other organ disease activity. Non-scarring alopecia, a form of hair loss, is seen in 40-70% of patients. The review emphasizes the importance of early recognition and treatment of these symptoms to prevent disease progression, with antimalarials being first-line therapies for cutaneous disease in SLE. Other treatment options include immunosuppressives, thalidomide, lenalidomide, and dapsone. The document also highlights the use of the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) and SLEDAI 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) for disease monitoring.
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