[Deep skin lesions of lupus erythematosus]

The authors report 2 cases of lupus erythematosus (LE) with deep cutaneous lesions. In both cases the lupus panniculitis presented as hard, infiltrated subcutaneous plaques situated symmetrically on the external aspect of both arms and on the upper parts of the buttocks. The diagnosis was confirmed on clinical, histological, immunohistological and therapeutic data. These 2 reports and the 43 cases in the literature dating from 1967, illustrate the main features of lupus panniculitis. The clinical appearances and sites are very stereotyped and immediately suggest the diagnosis even in the absence of other clinical and/or biological signs of lupus. The evolution is very slow and is characterised by dramatic regression of the inflammatory signs with synthetic antimalarial drugs. These deep skin lesions are observed in both purely cutaneous chronic lupus and in systemic lupus which is usually relatively inactive. This prevents the identification of a special form of this disease with a specific evolution and prognosis.