Cutaneous Lupus Concerns from the Patient Perspective: A Qualitative Study

This study aimed to identify concerns unique to patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) through semistructured, qualitative interviews with 16 patients. The interviews revealed six main themes: Fear of Disease Progression, Unwanted Attention, Self-Consciousness, Physical Signs/Symptoms, Emotional Symptoms, and Functional Decline. The most commonly reported concerns were Self-Consciousness (81.3%), Physical Symptoms (75%), and Fear of Disease Progression (68.8%). Frequently mentioned physical symptoms included erythema, itch, dyspigmentation, scar, and alopecia. Younger patients were more likely to report emotional symptoms than older patients. These findings highlight the importance of addressing these specific concerns in clinical evaluations and quality-of-life assessments for CLE patients.