Systemic lupus erythematosus presenting as lupus panniculitis

ABSTRACT

Systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE] is an autoimmune disease that presents in diverse ways. Panniculitis is not a common presentation of SLE. Its overall incidence is estimated to be 1-3%, occurring predominantly in women. The lesions have predilection for the fatty areas of body such as shoulders, hips, thighs and face. We present here a case of a young female who visited us with the complaint of soft tissue swellings over buttocks, shins, arms and face. The swellings appeared to be ordinary abscesses at first sight. She also had history of arthralgia and low grade fever. Laboratory examination demonstrated high litres of antinucleal antigen and anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies in serum which led us to suspect lupus panniculitis. Histopathology revealed features of lobular panniculitis with lymphohistiocytic infiltrate deep in the subcutis. We report this case because this is a rare presentation of lupus erythematosus