Unusual Clinical Manifestations of Chronic Discoid Lupus Erythematosus

    Ljubka Miteva, Valentina Broshtilova, Robert A. Schwartz
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    TLDR A woman with discoid lupus improved with treatment after being misdiagnosed with a different hair loss condition.
    In 2014, a case report detailed a 22-year-old woman with chronic discoid lupus erythematosus (CDLE) who presented with two patches of non-scarring alopecia on her scalp, resembling alopecia areata. Despite the clinical similarity to alopecia areata, histopathological and immunological tests confirmed CDLE. The patient's normal blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and negative antinuclear antibodies supported the diagnosis. Treatment with chloroquine phosphate and topical steroids led to improvement and reduction in alopecia plaque size. This case underscored the rarity of CDLE presenting with alopecia areata-like patches and the necessity of histopathological analysis for accurate diagnosis.
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