Cutaneous lupus erythematosus: a clinical, histological and photobiological study

ABSTRACT

Twenty-five patients suffering from discoid cutaneous lupus erythematosus were studied. The patients were divided into two groups, disseminated discoid lupus erythematosus [10 subjects] and localised discoid lupus erythematosus [15 subjects]. A photodistribution was recorded in all the patients, indicating that exposure to sunlight plays an important part in the disease. Histologically, the two groups showed similar features. On phototesting, the action spectrum for erythema showed that it was possible to demonstrate abnormal photosensitivity in some of the patients