Middermal elastolysis in two patients with lupus erythematosus

Despite lupus erythematosus (LE) being considered a "connective tissue dise ase." little has been written about the elastic fiber changes in the skin o f affected patients. Ws report our histologic findings in tno patients :vit h unusual cutaneous lesions. Elastic fiber loss was noted, and scattered gi ant cells with elastic fiber phagocytosis were prominent in one patient. Th e findings are similar to those described for middermal elastolysis. Other authors have reported patients with LE and elastic fiber loss resembling an etoderma. We believe that a spectrum of elastic fiber changes can occur in patients with LE and may be induced by infiltrating lymphocytes and/or circ ulating antibodies.