Lupus erythematosus
Encyclopedia
Lupus erythematosus is a category for a collection of diseases with similar underlying problems with immunity
(autoimmune disease
). Symptoms of these diseases can affect many different body systems, including joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, heart, and lungs. Four main types of lupus exist — systemic lupus erythematosus
, discoid lupus erythematosus
, drug-induced lupus erythematosus
, and neonatal lupus erythematosus
. Of these, systemic lupus erythematosus is the most common and serious form of lupus.
Photosensitivity's relationship to and influence on the systemic manifestations of lupus remain to be defined. Mechanisms for photosensitivity might include: modulation of autoantibody location, cytotoxic effects, apoptosis induction with autoantigens in apoptotic blebs, upregulation of adhesion molecules and cytokines, induction of nitric oxide synthase expression and ultraviolet-generated antigenic DNA. Tumor necrosis factor alpha also seems to play a role in the development of photosensitivity.
or in purely cutaneous forms. Types of lupus erythematosus can be categorized into the following types:
Immunity (medical)
Immunity is a biological term that describes a state of having sufficient biological defenses to avoid infection, disease, or other unwanted biological invasion. Immunity involves both specific and non-specific components. The non-specific components act either as barriers or as eliminators of wide...
(autoimmune disease
Autoimmune disease
Autoimmune diseases arise from an overactive immune response of the body against substances and tissues normally present in the body. In other words, the body actually attacks its own cells. The immune system mistakes some part of the body as a pathogen and attacks it. This may be restricted to...
). Symptoms of these diseases can affect many different body systems, including joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, heart, and lungs. Four main types of lupus exist — systemic lupus erythematosus
Systemic lupus erythematosus
Systemic lupus erythematosus , often abbreviated to SLE or lupus, is a systemic autoimmune disease that can affect any part of the body. As occurs in other autoimmune diseases, the immune system attacks the body's cells and tissue, resulting in inflammation and tissue damage...
, discoid lupus erythematosus
Discoid lupus erythematosus
Discoid lupus erythematosus is an uncommon autoimmune disease of the basal cell layer of the skin. It occurs in humans and cats, more frequently occurring in dogs. It does not progress to systemic lupus erythematosus in dogs. SLE can also have skin symptoms, but it appears that the two are...
, drug-induced lupus erythematosus
Drug-induced lupus erythematosus
Drug-induced lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disorder caused by chronic use of certain drugs. These drugs cause an autoimmune response producing symptoms similar to those of SLE...
, and neonatal lupus erythematosus
Neonatal lupus erythematosus
Neonatal lupus erythematosus is the occurrence of SLE symptoms in an infant born from a mother with SLE, most commonly presenting with a rash resembling discoid lupus erythematosus, and sometimes with systemic abnormalities such as heart block or hepatosplenomegaly.The infants have no skin lesions...
. Of these, systemic lupus erythematosus is the most common and serious form of lupus.
Photosensitivity's relationship to and influence on the systemic manifestations of lupus remain to be defined. Mechanisms for photosensitivity might include: modulation of autoantibody location, cytotoxic effects, apoptosis induction with autoantigens in apoptotic blebs, upregulation of adhesion molecules and cytokines, induction of nitric oxide synthase expression and ultraviolet-generated antigenic DNA. Tumor necrosis factor alpha also seems to play a role in the development of photosensitivity.
Types
Lupus erythematosus may manifest as a systemic diseaseSystemic disease
Life-threatening disease redirects here.A systemic disease is one that affects a number of organs and tissues, or affects the body as a whole. Although most medical conditions will eventually involve multiple organs in advanced stage Life-threatening disease redirects here.A systemic disease is one...
or in purely cutaneous forms. Types of lupus erythematosus can be categorized into the following types:
- Acute cutaneous lupus erythematosusAcute cutaneous lupus erythematosusAcute cutaneous lupus erythematosus is a cutaneous condition characterized by a bilateral malar erythema and lesions that tend to be transient, follow sun exposure....
- Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosusSubacute cutaneous lupus erythematosusSubacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus is a clinically distinct subset of cases of lupus erythematosus that is most often present in white women aged 15 to 40, consisting of skin lesions that are scaly and evolve as polycyclic annular lesions or psoriasiform plaques.Characteristically the lesions...
- Chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus
- Discoid lupus erythematosusDiscoid lupus erythematosusDiscoid lupus erythematosus is an uncommon autoimmune disease of the basal cell layer of the skin. It occurs in humans and cats, more frequently occurring in dogs. It does not progress to systemic lupus erythematosus in dogs. SLE can also have skin symptoms, but it appears that the two are...
- Childhood discoid lupus erythematosus
- Generalized discoid lupus erythematosus
- Localized discoid lupus erythematosus
- Chilblain lupus erythematosusChilblain lupus erythematosusChilblain lupus erythematosus is a chronic, unremitting form of lupus erythematosus with the fingertips, rims of ears, calves, and heels affected, especially in women....
(Hutchinson) - Lupus erythematosus-lichen planus overlap syndromeLupus erythematosus-lichen planus overlap syndromeLupus erythematosus–lichen planus overlap syndrome is a true overlap syndrome with features of both lupus erythematosus and lichen planus, with skin lesions usually large, atropic, hypopigmented, red or pink patches and plaques.Lichen planus–lupus erythematosus overlap syndrome is a rare variant...
- Lupus erythematosus panniculitisLupus erythematosus panniculitisLupus erythematosus panniculitis presents with subcutaneous nodules that are commonly firm, sharply defined, and nontender....
(Lupus erythematosus profundus) - Tumid lupus erythematosusTumid lupus erythematosusTumid lupus erythematosus is a rare, but distinctive entity in which patients present with edematous erythematous plaques, usually on the trunk....
- Verrucous lupus erythematosusVerrucous lupus erythematosusVerrucous lupus erythematosus presents with non-puritic papulonodular lesions on the arms and hands, resembling keratoacanthoma or hypertropic lichen planus....
(Hypertrophic lupus erythematosus)
- Discoid lupus erythematosus
- Complement deficiency syndromes
- Drug-induced lupus erythematosusDrug-induced lupus erythematosusDrug-induced lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disorder caused by chronic use of certain drugs. These drugs cause an autoimmune response producing symptoms similar to those of SLE...
- Neonatal lupus erythematosusNeonatal lupus erythematosusNeonatal lupus erythematosus is the occurrence of SLE symptoms in an infant born from a mother with SLE, most commonly presenting with a rash resembling discoid lupus erythematosus, and sometimes with systemic abnormalities such as heart block or hepatosplenomegaly.The infants have no skin lesions...
- Systemic lupus erythematosusSystemic lupus erythematosusSystemic lupus erythematosus , often abbreviated to SLE or lupus, is a systemic autoimmune disease that can affect any part of the body. As occurs in other autoimmune diseases, the immune system attacks the body's cells and tissue, resulting in inflammation and tissue damage...