Chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus--clinical spectrum.

The typical clinical manifestation of chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CCLE) is the chronic discoid lupus erythematosus. This form is characterized by inflammatory, scarring lesions mainly involving the head or neck, but also elsewhere, mostly on the photoexposed areas. The typical lesions in chronic discoid lupus erythematosus appear as round or oval erythematous plaques with scales and follicular plugging. These plaques are well demarcated and spread peripherally. On the face, they can form a butterfly-like rash involving the cheeks and nose. The long-standing lesions are atrophic and scarring, sometimes with hypo-, and hyperpigmentation and teleangiectasias. In 50% of the patients, there is a widespread skin involvement. This form is considered to be the typical clinical picture of CCLE.