Lupus Erythematosus Panniculitis: Clinical Manifestations, Direct Immunofluorescence Study and Natural Course

Authors

  • Papapit Tuchinda DEPARTMENT OF DERMATOLOGY, FACULTY OF MEDICINE SIRIRAJ HOSPITAL, MAHIDOL UNIVERSITY, BANGKOK, THAILAND
  • Leena Chularojanamontri DEPARTMENT OF DERMATOLOGY, FACULTY OF MEDICINE SIRIRAJ HOSPITAL, MAHIDOL UNIVERSITY, BANGKOK, THAILAND
  • Einapak Boontaveeyuwat DEPARTMENT OF DERMATOLOGY, FACULTY OF MEDICINE SIRIRAJ HOSPITAL, MAHIDOL UNIVERSITY, BANGKOK, THAILAND
  • Nisa Kiewjoy DEPARTMENT OF DERMATOLOGY, FACULTY OF MEDICINE SIRIRAJ HOSPITAL, MAHIDOL UNIVERSITY, BANGKOK, THAILAND

Keywords:

panniculitis, lupus erythematosus, clinical, direct immunofluorescence

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical manifestations, direct immunofluorescence (DIF) and natural course of Thai patients with lupus erythematosus panniculitis (LEP). We retrospectively studied patients with LEP who presented at Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, between January 2000 and December 2008. Of the 25 patients enrolled, 22 (88%) were female. The clinical appearance included subcutaneous nodules and plaques. The most common involved site was upper extremities (9 cases; 36%), followed by face (8 cases; 32%). Six patients (24%) fulfilled American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for SLE. Twelve patients (48%) had DLE lesions elsewhere. Three patients (12%) also showed DLE lesions on the LEP lesions. The mean follow-up duration was 4.1 years.   Of the 20 caseswho did not meet  the ACR criteria when LEP was diagnosed, only one patient developed SLE over the course of 2 years after the onset of LEP. Our study revealed high positive yield of DIF study (81.8%). Thus, in suspected patients, beside histopathologic study, DIF study of lesional skin may give additional diagnostic benefits.

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Published

2026-06-19

How to Cite

Tuchinda, P., Chularojanamontri, L., Boontaveeyuwat, E., & Kiewjoy, N. (2026). Lupus Erythematosus Panniculitis: Clinical Manifestations, Direct Immunofluorescence Study and Natural Course. Thai Journal of Dermatology, 25(2), 109–117. retrieved from https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/TJD/article/view/283130

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