Acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus | |
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Specialty | Dermatology |
Acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus is a cutaneous condition characterized by a bilateral malar rash (also known as a "butterfly rash") and lesions that tend to be transient, and that follow sun exposure. The acute form is distinct from chronic and subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus, which may have different types of skin lesions. Cutaneous lupus erythematosus is associated with both lupus erythematosus-specific lesions and cutaneous manifestations that are not specific to lupus erythematosus, such as oral ulcers and urticaria. Because of the diagnostic criteria used to diagnose systemic lupus erythematosus, a patient with only cutaneous manifestations may be diagnosed with the systemic form of the disease.
Forms
Acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus can be either localized or generalized.
Localized form
The localized form of the disease is most commonly associated with the malar rash and normally develops in a patient's twenties. The localized form occurs only above the patient's neck and is not associated with rashes in other parts of the body.
Generalized form
Generalized acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus includes skin below the patient's neck and is described as a macropapular rash or photosensitive lupus dermatitis. Symptoms include similar erythematic lesions as seen in the localized form, but forms a symmetrical rash and can be mistaken for a drug rash.
See also
References
- Rapini RP, Bolognia JL, Jorizzo JL (2007). Dermatology: 2-Volume Set. St. Louis: Mosby. ISBN 978-1-4160-2999-1.
- ^ Werth VP (June 2005). "Clinical manifestations of cutaneous lupus erythematosus". Autoimmunity Reviews. 4 (5): 296–302. doi:10.1016/j.autrev.2005.01.003. PMID 15990077.
- McCauliffe DP (March 2001). "Cutaneous lupus erythematosus". Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery. 20 (1): 14–26. doi:10.1053/sder.2001.23091. PMID 11308132.
- ^ Okon LG, Werth VP (June 2013). "Cutaneous lupus erythematosus: diagnosis and treatment". Best Practice & Research. Clinical Rheumatology. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. 27 (3): 391–404. doi:10.1016/j.berh.2013.07.008. PMC 3927537. PMID 24238695.