DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2013.v01i06.0025

Pages: 765-768

Cutaneous involvement is a prominent feature in connective tissue disease and the skin lesions are extremely important in diagnosing and sub classifying patients with these conditions. Lupus erythematosus, is an important condition in this group of diseases often presents with different cutaneous manifestations. Twenty cases of cutaneous lupus erythematosus were studied over a period of two years to analyze overlapping of histopathological features, possible transformation of one disease to the other and co-existing conditions. Routine Haematoxyline and Eosin (H&E) sections were studied along with special stain Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS). Twenty cases studied included nine discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE), seven acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (ACLE) and four cases of subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE). Considerable overlapping of features was observed among skin lesions in acute, subacute and chronic lesions of lupus erythematosus. In conclusion, as there is a considerable overlapping of histopathologic features in different cutaneous lesions of lupus erythematosus, often it is necessary to use other diagnostic tools like serological and immunological study, in conjunction with histopathology with the background of clinical history, for a conclusive diagnosis.