TLDR The man was diagnosed with lupus and improved with treatment.
A 29-year-old man presented with fever, rash, hair loss, joint pain, and other symptoms, leading to a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The patient's symptoms included a generalized maculopapular rash, alopecia, and oral ulcers, with lab tests showing leukopenia, a high ANA titer, and positive anti-SM antibodies. SLE is an autoimmune disease causing chronic inflammation in multiple organ systems, with dermatologic findings in over 70% of cases. The patient was treated with hydroxychloroquine and low-dose steroids, showing improvement. SLE diagnosis requires a combination of clinical and laboratory criteria, and treatment may involve immunosuppressive therapy.
109 citations,
November 2004 in “Lupus” The paper concludes that the 1982 criteria for diagnosing systemic lupus erythematosus need updating to improve accuracy and involve dermatologists in the process.
46 citations,
June 2018 in “American Journal of Clinical Dermatology” Hair loss is common in lupus patients and can be permanent or reversible, depending on the type, with various treatments available.
59 citations,
June 2022 in “Frontiers in medicine” There are still challenges in diagnosing and treating chronic skin diseases, but there is hope for future improvements.
7 citations,
July 2013 in “InTech eBooks” Oral lichen planus is a chronic disease causing mouth discomfort and sometimes needs immunosuppressive treatment.
149 citations,
July 2002 in “Dermatologic clinics” Patients with certain skin symptoms and high ANA titers should be monitored for potential systemic lupus.
95 citations,
November 2016 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Treatments for permanent hair loss from scarring aim to stop further loss, not regrow hair, and vary by condition, with partial success common.
