Bullous systemic lupus erythematosus--a case report and review

We report a case of a 20-year-old Chinese woman who presented with an 8-month history of a widespread pruritic blistering eruption. Histology, direct immunofluorescence and indirect immunofluorescence studies were consistent with bullous systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The lesions responded dramatically to dapsone 100 mg daily. Bullous SLE is a rare blistering condition with a distinctive combination of clinical, histologic and immunopathologic features that together constitute a unique bullous disease phenotype. The differential diagnoses and in particular the association between bullous SLE and epidermolysis bullosa acquisita are emphasized.