Prevalence and Clinical Assessment of Skin Lesions in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

This retrospective study analyzes the histopathological patterns of skin lesions in 430 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), meeting the American College of Rheumatology criteria from 2018-2023. Patient demographics reveal a mean age of 43.56 years, with a near-equal gender distribution (50.9% male, 49.1% female). Malar rash (24%) was the most prevalent lesion type, followed by bullous (19.8%), subacute (19.8%), and discoid rashes (19.1%). Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (mean 30.49 mm/hour) and CRP (mean 17.43 mg/L) confirmed systemic inflammation. Chi-square analysis indicated significant ethnic disparities (p < 0.001) and diverse treatment histories (p < 0.001), with cyclophosphamide (21.9%) and hydroxychloroquine (19.8%) being common. Primary outcomes focused on symptom control (35.6%), lesion reduction (33.3%), and rash resolution (31.2%). The study underscores the need for tailored therapeutic approaches based on lesion type and disease progression.