Skin lesions - an indicator of disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus?

Cutaneous manifestations have great diagnostic value for systemic lupus ery thematosus (SLE). In this study we tried to establish a correlation between lupus erythematosus LE-specific and LE-nonspecific cutaneous lesions and d isease activity measured by the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activi ty Index (SLEDAI). Sixty-six patients with SLE were evaluated. They were di vided into three groups having: (1) only LE-specific lesions (38 or 58.46%) ; (2) only LE-nonspecific lesions (4 or 6.15%); and (3) both types of lesio ns (23 or 35.38%). Results were analyzed using the Student t-test. Patients with LE-nonspecific skin manifestations had significantly increase d disease activity compared to those with only LE-specific lesions. The num ber of different skin lesion types also correlated with disease activity. I t was significantly increased in a group with three different types of lesi on, either specific or nonspecific. Patients with only one type of lesion h ad mild disease. An intermediate disease activity was found in the group wi th two different lesion types. Lupus-specific skin manifestations serve primarily as an important diagnost ic clue. In conclusion, patients with LE-nonspecific lesions have significa ntly more active SLE than those with LE-specific lesions and may therefore require more intensive therapy and disease monitoring.