Cutaneous lupus erythematosus.

摘要

In this autoimmune disease, the body's immune system attacks healthy skin. There are 3 main types: (1) Acute cutaneous lupus ("acute skin lupus"); (2) Subacute cutaneous lupus ("subacute lupus"); and (3) Chronic cutaneous lupus ("discoid lupus"). All patients with skin lupus need to be monitored for disease inside of the body, which can affect the joints, kidneys, lungs, and other organs. Acute skin lupus almost always involves more than just the skin, whereas both subacute and discoid lupus often occur only in the skin. This is important because while all patients with skin lupus need to be monitored, many patients with either subacute lupus or discoid lupus go through life without significant disease inside their bodies. Lupus most often appears between the ages of 20 and 50 years; it affects women more than men; and it may happen more in patients with a family history of lupus or other autoimmune diseases.