Unusual variant of lupus erythematosus or lichen planus. Clinical, histopathologic, and immunofluorescent studies

Abstract

Patients (11) with a skin disorder in which clinical, histopathologic, and immunofluorescent findings showed overlap features of both lupus erythematosus (LE) and lichen planus (LP) were observed for several years. Clinical lesions were extremely longterm and consisted primarily of livid red to violaceous atrophic patches and plaques, most common on acral aspects of the extremities. Nails were also commonly involved, often showing anonychia. Histologic changes combined cell-rich and cell-poor lichenoid patterns in the papillary dermis, suggesting both LP and LE. The major immunofluorescent finding in all patients was the presence of ovoid bodies at the dermal-epidermal (D-E) junction and in the upper dermis. Most patients showed both a linear arrangement and a clustering pattern of these bodies. Four patients also had coexistant but poorly developed linear deposits of immunoglobulins and complement at the D-E junction.