Abnormal laboratory test results and their relationship to prognosis in discoid lupus erythematosus. A long-term follow-up study of 92 patients

Abstract

Investigation of 92 patients with discoid lupus erythematosus, manifested initially by localized cutaneous lesions only, showed abnormal laboratory test results for 57 patients (62%) on admission and for 62 patients (67.4%) on review 16-20 yr later. Patients with discoid lesions confined to the head and neck (DLE) showed fewer laboratory abnormalities than those patients with disseminated lesions involving trunk and limbs (disseminated discoid lupus erythematosus [DDLE]). Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) eventually developed in 6 (6.5%) of the patients, and all had shown persistent multiple abnormal laboratory findings from the beginning. Complete remission occurred in 46.7%. A persistent positive antinuclear factor of speckled or homogeneous pattern with a titer greater than 1:50, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia or a false-positive Wassermann reaction indicated those patients who may progress to DDLE or SLE.