Abstract
Lupus erythematosus (LE) is an autoimmune disease with a variety of clinical manifestations, from isolated skin disease, ie cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE), to systemic disease affecting multiple organs, ie systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE). LE-associated skin lesions can be divided into LE-specific and LE-non-specific.
LE-specific lesions include acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (ACLE), subacute cutaneous LE (subacute cutaneous erythematosus, SCLE) and chronic cutaneous LE (CCLE). LE-nonspecific includes those skin manifestations that are often found in patients with SLE, but can also be observed in other diseases, such as alopecia, some vascular changes or skin calcinosis.
Thorough photoprotection is necessary to prevent a number of skin manifestations of LE, and topical or systemic glucocorticoids, antimalarials and other immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive drugs are used therapeutically, depending on the extent and severity.