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Updated: Oct 1, 2025

Dermoscopy Aids in the Diagnosis of Discoid Lupus Erythematosus
Published on: May 16, 2025
Dystrophic calcinosis cutis associated with systemic lupus erythematosus: a case report
Filipa Costa Sousa1, Mariana Figueiras1, Ana Rita Parente1
1Department of Clinical Immunology, Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
Abstract:
Calcinosis cutis is a rare and potentially disabling condition characterized by calcium deposition in soft tissues. When associated with autoimmune connective tissue diseases, calcinosis cutis is classified as Dystrophic Calcinosis Cutis (DCC), being its occurrence in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients fairly uncommon. We report a case of DCC in a 49 years old woman with eleven years evolution SLE that presented with a two years history of multiple painful skin lesions, some of them ulcerated and exhibiting a chalky white-yellow floor, in both hands, forearms, thighs, buttocks, abdomen and left breast. The pelvic X-ray showed soft tissue calcifications and the skin biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of DCC. The patient was treated with diltiazem 240mg/day and a significant regression of the lesions and associated pain was observed. Dystrophic calcinosis cutis is often a painful and disrupting condition in which timely diagnosis and treatment may be quite challenging.
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