More about discoid lupus posted by on January 18, 2012

When tests are performed in a patient with cutaneous LE, there may be no abnormalities, especially if the patient has localised discoid LE. Discoid lupus may affect the lips and inside the mouth, causing ulcers and scaling. These lesions may predispose to squamous cell carcinoma.
Vasculitis can also occur in other areas of the body for example the kidney which can be very serious and requires prompt treatment The blood flow through the skin blood vessels can become sluggish in lupus patients who have proteins that affect the clotting of the blood known as the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome.
At one end of the range is ‘systemic’ lupus erythematosus, which can damage internal organs, whilst right at the other end of the range is ‘discoid’ lupus erythematosus, which is confined to the skin and does not cause general ill health.

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