Systemic lupus erythematosus with unusual maculopapular and erosive cutaneous lesions.

In 2002, a 38-year-old woman was referred to the department of dermatological sciences for the evaluation of erythematous-infiltrated lesions with prominent purpuric and erosive components distributed on her face, upper chest, and extensor surfaces of the limbs, which developed over a 3-month period. In 1997 the patient suffered from polyarthralgia (proximal interphalangeal,knee, wrist, and metacarpophalangeal joints) associated with morning stiffness. In 1999 she was admitted to a psychiatric unit for depression with episodes of lipothymia. In the same year, since she developed diffuse and persistent urticarial manifestations with angioedema and livedo reticularis of the limbs in association with anticardiolipin antibodies, vasculitis was proposed. Upon examination, erythematous-infiltrated and erosive lesions in association with serohemorrhagic crusts were present on the face,neck, chest, upper trunk, and extensor surfaces of the upper limbs and thighs (Figures 1-3). Telangiectasias were especially evident on the cheeks, where prominent edema conferred her face a moon-like appearance (Figure 1). Laboratory investigations disclosed microcytic anemia, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, proteinuria (30 mg/dL), positive antinuclear antibodies (1:80) with diffuse fluorescence pattern, lowered complement levels (C3: 31 mg/dL, C4: 3 mg/dL), circulating immunocomplexes binding Clq, and high titers of anti-TSH receptor antibodies. Indirect immunofluorescence was negative for the detection of anti-basement membrane zone antibodies. Histological examination of the lesional skin of the shoulder documented epidermal atrophy, marked vacuolar degeneration of the basal cell layer, colloid bodies, and a perivascular lymphohistiocytic infiltration of the upper and deep dermis (Figure 4). Direct immunofluorescence performed on affected skin showed junctional granular deposition of IgG, C3,and Clq in association with perivascular C3 and Clq deposits in the upper dermis; direct immunofluorescence on sun-protected,non-lesional skin showed similar immunological deposition both at the basement membrane zone and in the perivascular dermis.Based upon the clinical, histologic, and immunopathologic findings, we proposed the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus with maculopapular and erosive skin lesions. The patient was treated with methylprednisolone IV (pulse therapy, 250 mg) tapered over 10 days and later continued p.o. After a few weeks, significant improvement of cutaneous manifestations was noted.