Discoid Lupus is a chronic skin condition of sores with inflammation and scarring
favouring the face, ears, and scalp and at times on other body areas. The lesions
develop as a red, inflamed patch with a scaling and crusty appearance. The central
areas may appear lighter in colour with a rim darker than the normal skin.
Discoid lupus can be divided into localised, generalised and childhood discoid lupus
erythematosus.
Localised discoid lupus typically presents with skin lesions localised above the
neck.
Generalised discoid lupus is less common with all degrees of severity being encountered,
most often affecting the thorax and upper extremities in addition to the head and
neck.
Childhood discoid lupus lacks a female predominance, has a low frequency of photosensitivity,
and a higher progression to systemic lupus.
What are the symptoms of discoid lupus?
They include a variety of different looking skin rashes, photosensitivity and sometimes
mouth or nose ulcers.
How is discoid lupus different to systemic lupus?
Discoid Lupus is confined to the skin, whereas systemic lupus may involve any organ
system in the body, as well as the skin.
Can discoid lupus turn into systemic lupus?
About 10% of discoid lupus cases may develop into systemic lupus. However, this can't
be predicted or prevented from happening.
Neonatal lupus - is a rare form of temporary lupus that affects infants of women
who have lupus and is caused by antibodies from the mother acting upon the infant
in the womb.
Symptoms:
At birth, the infant may have:
A skin rash - Nearly 75% of babies with neonatal lupus will have skin rashes at birth.
The following 25% will break out typically within two to five months. Sun exposure
tends to precipitate the outbreak.
Liver problems.
Low blood cell counts.
A heart defect - some babies born with neonatal lupus may present with a heart condition
that is permanent, but treatable.
Infants born with neonatal lupus are not at an increased risk of developing SLE later
in life. However, if the mother has SLE, she is more likely to develop some form
of autoimmune disease later in her life.
Neonatal Lupus Erythematosus by Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH, Professor and Head of
Dermatology, Professor of Medicine, Professor of Pediatrics, Professor of Pathology,
Professor of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School.
Neonatal Lupus, by David T Robles, MD, PhD; Lorena Jaramillo, MD; and Robin L Hornung
MD Dermatology Online Journal, Volume 12 Number 7.
Drug-induced Lupus is similar to systemic lupus. It is caused by a hypersensitivity
reaction to a medication. A drug may react with cell materials, causing the body
to form antibodies that attack the body's own healthy cells.
Drug-induced lupus affects men and women 1:1
Several medications are known to cause drug-induced lupus.
People with drug-induced lupus may experience symptoms that affect:
The joints (arthritis).
The heart.
The lungs.
Other symptoms associated with SLE are rare.
Symptoms that may be experienced:
Blurred vision.
Fever.
General ill feeling.
Joint pain.
Joint swelling.
Loss of appetite.
Pleuritic chest pain.
Skin rash.
Butterfly rash across bridge of nose and cheeks.
Weight loss.
Normally symptoms disappear within days or weeks after stopping the medication that
caused the condition.
Possible Complications that may occur:
Infection
Thrombocytopenia purpura -- bleeding near the skin surface, resulting from a low
number of platelets in the blood
Hemolytic anaemia
Myocarditis
Pericarditis
Drug-induced lupus erythematosus is usually not as severe as SLE
