Discoid lupus erythematosus: a profile.

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Immunology

Background:

• Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is a chronic autoimmune condition affecting the skin.
• Understanding its demographic, clinical, and therapeutic aspects is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the demographic profile of DLE patients.
• To characterize the clinical presentations and common symptoms of DLE.
• To determine the typical therapeutic outcomes and sequelae of DLE.

Main Methods:

• A case series study was conducted involving 110 adult patients diagnosed with DLE.
• Data collected included demographics, clinical type, lesion characteristics, and symptoms.
• Serum anti-nuclear factor (ANF) was assessed, and data were analyzed for frequencies and percentages.

Main Results:

• The study included 110 patients (72 females, 38 males) aged 18-62 years.
• The plaque form was most common (61.8%), predominantly affecting the face (54.5%).
• Fatigue and joint pain were common symptoms (47%), and 17.3% tested positive for antinuclear antibody.

Conclusions:

• Discoid lupus erythematosus is a chronic disease with diverse clinical manifestations.
• The most frequent outcome observed in DLE patients is post-inflammatory pigmentation and scarring.