Cutaneous Manifestations of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Pakistani Children

The study evaluated cutaneous manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in 15 Pakistani children, aged 5-13 years, from the Children Hospital, Lahore. The findings showed that malar rash (66.6%) and photosensitivity (53.3%) were the most common skin changes, while diffuse hair loss was observed in 40% of the cases. Unlike adults, children did not show a female preponderance, and conditions like peripheral gangrene, chilblain, and Raynaud’s phenomenon were absent. The study concluded that cutaneous manifestations in children differ from those in adults, with neonatal lupus erythematosus being a rare occurrence.