Cutaneous vasculitis in systemic lupus erythematosus. A poor prognostic indicator.

The type of cutaneous lesion found in the patient with systemic lupus erythematosus is often predictive of the activity and course of the systemic disease. Vasculitis often correlates with active systemic lupus erythematosus, and portends a poor prognosis. A patient with several vasculitic changes on the fingers who died of progressive renal and central nervous system deterioration is presented.