How Systemic Lupus Turns systemic

[Christy645]

I was discord until I got sunburn on a boat

[Barnclown]

Hi Christy: interesting question!

I’ve been hoping someone knowledgeable on this subject would reply, but in the meantime i’ve done a bit of research and come up with this abstract from a legit published paper on research into the relationship between DLE & SLE:

PREVIOUS RESEARCH on cutaneous lupus erythematosus lesions has been directed at examining the relationship between the scarring lesions of discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and the pathogenesis of the lesions of cutaneous lupus erythematosus.

The lesions of DLE generally occur as scarring isolated cutaneous lesions in the absence of systemic features. However, studies of large populations of patients with SLE indicate that approximately 15% to 20% of patients with SLE (satisfying the American College of Rheumatology criteria for SLE) also possess discoid lupus lesions.1 In addition, it has been recognized that over time approximately 5% to 10% of patients with DLE will develop clinical features that satisfy the American College of Rheumatology diagnosis of SLE.

Here is the link to this abstract (unfortunately the full text of this 1994 article doesn’t seem to be available to patients online, but the authour is well respected & published lots on his lupus-related research):

researchgate.net/publicatio...

I hope you get other replies that help more.

For what it’s worth: I did have a great Lupus friend, now deceased, who was diagnosed with DLE by dermatology clinic and treated there for years, but never felt all that “well” so wasn’t convinced the meds prescribed for her DLE were actually adequately medicating this “so-called” DLE. eventually she requested referral to my lupus clinic (a Lupus UK Centre of Excellence) where a highly lupus-expert rheumatologist reviewed her case...and found she did meet the official criteria for the diagnosis of SLE. As a result, my friend’s condition generally improved lots due to the adjustments this brilliant consultant made to her daily combined therapy prescription meds.

🍀🍀🍀🍀 Coco