Brief Overview of Current Therapeutic Considerations in Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus
Brief Overview of Current Therapeutic Considerations in Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Morayo Adisa, MD Cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) encompasses the group of autoimmune connective tissue disorders affecting the skin which may be associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) to varying degrees. The most used classification of CLE is that of Dr. James Gilliam and Dr. Richard Sontheimer that divide the cutaneous lesions into specific and those that are not specific based on the presence of absences of interface dermatitis on histopathology. ACLE and the nonspecific variants have the strongest association with systemic disease. The LE-specifics skin lesions and their sub classifications are: Acute cutaneous LE (ACLE): Malar erythema Photo distributed erythema Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE): Psoriasiform, annular/polycyclic Neonatal Chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CCLE): Discoid LE (DLE): Localized, generalized, hypertrophic Lupus panniculitis Tumid LE Oth