Nasal mucosal involvement in lupus erythematosus.

The involvement of oral, conjunctival and genital mucosa in lupus erythematosus (LE) has recently been described. Reports of nasal involvement have been sporadic. A prospective study was performed to assess the prevalence of nasal symptoms and signs in LE and to identify the incidence of deposition of immunoreactants in the nasal mucosa of patients with LE. Thirty-six patients with LE were studied; 21 had non-specific nasal symptoms and 12 had evidence of chronic inflammatory changes in the mucosa of the nasal cavity or in the vestibule (septal perforation, inflamed mucosa, vestibulitis). Immunoreactants were found in only 4 patients and did not correlate well with clinical evidence of disease. Nasal mucosal involvement in LE is underestimated and often overlooked in the assessment of such patients.