Abstract
Introduction: SLE is an auto-immune disease with diverse patterns of auto-antibody production with multi-organ involvement. Cutaneous illness often precedes the systemic involvement, giving the opportunity to recognize the disease process much before the systemic complaints are expressed.
Objective: To evaluate the clinical pattern of cutaneous and mucosal lesions in patients with SLE using the Gilliam’s system of classification and to look for the various immunological markers of SLE in them.
Methodology: A hospital-based cross-sectional descriptive study in which Forty five consecutive patients of SLE who fulfilled the revised American college of rheumatology (ACR) criteria for the classification of SLE were included.
Results: Among the LE-specific skin lesions, ACLE lesions were exclusively seen in 28 patients, SCLE lesions were seen exclusively in 3 patients, CCLE lesions were exclusively seen in 2 patients, whereas a combination of ACLE lesions along with CCLE lesions were seen in 12 patients. ACLE was found to be the most common LE-specific skin lesion (40/45, 88.89%), followed by CCLE (14/45, 31.11%). Among the LE-non-specific skin lesions, oral ulceration was the most common, seen in 84% of patients, followed by telogen effluvium (76%). Raynaud’s phenomenon was the most common (20%) LE- nonspecific vasculopathy.
Conclusions: Cutaneous manifestations are some of the commonest and earliest manifestations of SLE. Various LE-specific skin lesions and LE-non-specific skin lesions, as described by Gilliam, aid in the diagnosis and management of SLE. Immunological markers like Anti-ds DNA antibody might act as a predictive marker for renal involvement in SLE.
Keywords: SLE, Gilliam’s classification, Antinuclear antibodies, ACR criteria
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Corresponding Author
Carounanidy Udayashankar
Department of Dermatology, Venereology & Leprology, Indira Gandhi Medical College & Research Institute, Kathirkamam, Pondicherry, 605009
Mobile: 09787731275, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v7i3.196
