Histopathology of cutaneous lupus erythematosus

The basic histopathologic feature of all cutaneous lesions of lupus erythematosus involves a perivascular mononuclear cell infiltrate with subsequent involvement of the epidermis and appendages. The various histologic alterations affecting the epidermis, dermis, and adnexal structures reflect the particular type of lesion biopsied and the duration of the lesion at the time of biopsy. The different clinical and serologic forms of lupus erythematosus cannot reliably be distinguished histologically, which supports the premise that lupus erythematosus is a disease with a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations but with a common underlying pathogenesis.