Cutaneous Lupus - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, And Treatment Of Cutaneous Lupus

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43

Causes, symptoms and treatment of cutaneous lupus

Definition of cutaneous lupus

Cutaneous lupus refers to diseases of the connective tissue of a collagenous nature, often manifests itself as discoid lupus erythematosus, less often there is a superficial form - Bietta's erythema and, in the most rare cases, Kaposi-Irganga lupus erythematosus occurs. With timely initiation of treatment and strict adherence to the preventive regimen, the prognosis of the disease is favorable. In advanced severe cases, the disease may spread to internal organs and body systems.

Causes of cutaneous lupus

The cause of the development of cutaneous lupus may be the negative impact of external factors: excessive insolation, frequent hypothermia, the presence of a chronic infection (usually streptococcal), an allergy to medications, or a history of auto-allergy in the patient. The disease is more common in countries with a humid, cool climate and, as a rule, in young or middle-aged women.

The viral etiology of cutaneous lupus is confirmed by microscopic studies; virus-like inclusions are determined in the affected skin areas taken for analysis.

Cutaneous lupus symptoms

Cutaneous lupus is most often expressed by a triad of symptoms inherent in discoid lupus: initially, erythematous rashes appear on the visible skin, later from these spots hyperkeratosis formations with areas of atrophy develop.

Erythema appears as a pink or reddish speck with well-defined borders. Then, in the center, dry scales of a grayish-white color are formed, which hold tightly due to the presence of thorn-like outgrowths on the lower part, growing into the follicles - follicular hyperkeratosis. When you try to remove them, painful sensations arise.

Gradually, in their place, foci of atrophy begin to form, and the formation takes on the appearance characteristic of discoid lupus - a smooth scar of atrophic tissue of white color, surrounded by a zone of deep hyperkeratosis and infiltration with a clear red rim. It is more often localized in visible areas of the skin, mainly on the nose and cheeks.

The affected surface is shaped like a butterfly. Rashes can be on the ears, neck, chest. Often present on the scalp, they affect the red border of the lips and the oral mucosa with the formation of erosions.

With a superficial variant of cutaneous lupus, Biett's centrifugal erythema, only one of the three signs stands out - this is hyperemia. Hyperkeratosis, infiltration and formation of atrophic foci, as a rule, are not observed. The characteristic location of erythemal spots is the surface of the face with the symptom of "lupus butterfly" typical for this disease. Multiple rashes all over the body are called disseminated cutaneous lupus erythematosus.

With this variant of the development of the disease, erythemal spots do not tend to grow and infiltrate. They stop growing after they reach a certain size. The lesions are chaotically located on the skin of the face, less often on the skin of the upper chest and back. If the rash appears on the skin of the hands, then the spots are purple in color with hyperkeratosis atrophic foci.

Kaposi-Irganga lupus erythematosus is a rare form of the disease that often occurs after skin injuries. It is characterized by the presence of one or more independent dense mobile nodes covered with normal skin. It is localized most often on the head and arms. With all forms of cutaneous lupus disease, there is a long-term continuous course of the disease with relapses in spring and summer, that is, with an increase in solar activity.

Diagnosis of cutaneous lupus

An important role is played by the primary medical examination and differentiation with other skin diseases, similar in clinical manifestations. To clarify the diagnosis, microscopic examination, histological is widely used.

Treatment for cutaneous lupus

A successful outcome depends on adequate, timely treatment. Complex therapy is mandatory. Rehabilitation of the identified chronic pathology is recommended. Topically, and only as directed by a doctor, corticosteroid ointments are used. If the disease is in remission, outpatient treatment is possible.

Patients should adhere to the preventive regime with particular care: it is necessary to spend as little time as possible in the open sun, frost, and avoid cold wind. It is recommended to use sunscreens, umbrellas or wide-brimmed hats in spring and summer. All patients are under the lifelong supervision of a specialist dermatologist and rheumatologist.

Author of the article: Kaplan Alexander Sergeevich | Orthopedist

Education: diploma in the specialty "General Medicine" received in 2009 at the Medical Academy. I. M. Sechenov. In 2012 completed postgraduate studies in Traumatology and Orthopedics at the City Clinical Hospital named after Botkin at the Department of Traumatology, Orthopedics and Disaster Surgery.