The Complex Connection Between Vitiligo and Lupus: Exploring the Link

    January 2023 in “ Journal of Integrative Medicine and Research ”
    Debashis Maikap, Phanidhar Dhanekula
    TLDR Vitiligo and lupus can occur together, requiring careful treatment to manage both conditions.
    A 37-year-old female presented with reddish raised lesions on her scalp, malar area, and ears, along with severe hair loss and pale-to-white lesions on her face and lips, indicative of vitiligo and discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE). Laboratory tests showed elevated dsDNA levels and low serum complement C3, leading to a diagnosis of lupus nephritis coexisting with DLE and vitiligo. Treatment with prednisolone, mycophenolate mofetil, and hydroxychloroquine improved her proteinuria and DLE lesions, but the vitiligo lesions persisted. The co-occurrence of DLE and vitiligo is rare, and treatment must be carefully managed to avoid exacerbating DLE lesions.
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