Clinical-epidemiological and histological characteristics of patients with systemic lupus erythematous with cutaneous manifestations

Introduction: Lupus erythematosus is an immune-mediated, inflammatory, chronic, multi-systemic disease, with cutaneous involvement in most cases. Cutaneous involvement may precede systemic involvement by decades, or be a marker of activity. Cutaneous involvement of lupus is divided into specific and nonspecific lesions, depending on whether or not they have interface dermatitis on histopathology.Objectives: To describe the clinical, epidemiological and histopathological characteristics of patients with lupus erythematosus with cutaneous manifestations who attend the Department of Dermatology of FCM-UNA from January 2008 to December 2018. 2018, regardless of age, patients with SLE associated lesions confirmed by pathology.Method: Design: Descriptive cross-sectional observational study. Sample: Non-probabilistic of consecutive cases. Inclusion criteria: patients with lupus erythematosus of both sexes and any age who attended the Outpatient Clinic of the Department of Dermatology of the Hospital de Clinicas-UNA from January 2008 to December 2018, with skin lesions associated with lupus erythematosus. to December 2018, carriers of skin lesions associated with Lupus Erythematosus with anatomopathological confirmation. Sources of information: patients who attended the Chair of Dermatology and clinical histories of patients diagnosed with lupus erythematosus.Results: Patients were predominantly females (79%) of reproductive age (32.7%). Most patients were from urban areas (56%) and housewives (37.7%). Sixty two percent reported sun exposure. Most patients had multiple lesions (71%), and 28% had facial lesions. Lesions were mostly lupus specific (68%), and classified a chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CCLE) ( 56%). Among the nonspecific lesions vasculitis was the most frequent (38%). All patients received antimalarials and sun protection recommendations. Multidisciplinary management with rheumatology and other departments according to the case was frequent.Conclusion: Adequately identifying these lesions provides fundamental data for the diagnosis and management of lupus patients; on many occasions these cutaneous and/or mucosal manifestations may reveal systemic activity.