Acute Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus (ACLE) Differential Diagnoses

  • Author: Ivan D Camacho, MD; Chief Editor: William D James, MD   more...
 
Updated: Nov 17, 2011
 
 

Diagnostic Considerations

Dermatomyositis, one differential to consider in the diagnosis of acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus, mimics lupus erythematosus clinically and histologically. However, antinuclear antibody (ANA) assay results invariably are positive in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and in those with acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus, but they are less likely to be positive in dermatomyositis.

Acne rosacea should also be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus.

Differential Diagnoses

Proceed to Workup
 
 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Ivan D Camacho, MD  Assistant Professor of Dermatology, Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami, Leonard M Miller School of Medicine; Medical Director of Dermatology Clinic, Jackson Memorial Hospital

Ivan D Camacho, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for MOHS Surgery, Florida Medical Association, International Society of Dermatology, and Women's Dermatologic Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Charmaine Browne, MD, FRCP(C)  Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas; Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Charmaine Browne, MD, FRCP(C) is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Contact Dermatitis Society, International Society of Dermatology, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, Society for Pediatric Dermatology, Texas Dermatological Society, and Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

William D James, MD  Paul R Gross Professor of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Vice-Chair, Program Director, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Health System

William D James, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Elsevier Royalty Other

Additional Contributors

Jeffrey P Callen, MD Professor of Medicine (Dermatology), Chief, Division of Dermatology, University of Louisville School of Medicine

Jeffrey P Callen, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Physicians, and American College of Rheumatology

Disclosure: Amgen Honoraria Consulting; Abbott Honoraria Consulting; Electrical Optical Sciences Consulting fee Consulting; Celgene Honoraria Safety Monitoring Committee; GSK - Glaxo Smith Kline Consulting fee Consulting; TenXBioPharma Consulting fee Safety Monitoring Committee

Richard P Vinson, MD Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Paul L Foster School of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Mountain View Dermatology, PA

Richard P Vinson, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, Association of Military Dermatologists, Texas Dermatological Society, and Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

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  2. Moghadam-Kia S, Chilek K, Gaines E, et al. Cross-sectional analysis of a collaborative Web-based database for lupus erythematosus-associated skin lesions: prospective enrollment of 114 patients. Arch Dermatol. Mar 2009;145(3):255-60. [Medline].

  3. Ting W, Stone MS, Racila D, Scofield RH, Sontheimer RD. Toxic epidermal necrolysis-like acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus and the spectrum of the acute syndrome of apoptotic pan-epidermolysis (ASAP): a case report, concept review and proposal for new classification of lupus erythematosus vesiculobullous skin lesions. Lupus. 2004;13(12):941-50. [Medline].

  4. Jerdan MS, Hood AF, Moore GW, Callen JP. Histopathologic comparison of the subsets of lupus erythematosus. Arch Dermatol. Jan 1990;126(1):52-5. [Medline].

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  11. Kuhn A, Gensch K, Haust M, et al. Efficacy of tacrolimus 0.1% ointment in cutaneous lupus erythematosus: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled trial. J Am Acad Dermatol. Jul 2011;65(1):54-64, 64.e1-2. [Medline].

  12. Díez MT, Boixeda P, Moreno C, González JA, Zamorano ML, Olasolo PJ. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry of cutaneous lupus erythematosus after pulsed dye laser treatment. Dermatol Surg. Jul 2011;37(7):971-81. [Medline].

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  15. ZZZ.

 
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Relationship of acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (ACLE) to systemic disease. LE is lupus erythematosus. CCLE is chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus. SCLE is subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus.
Erythema involving the malar area, forehead, and neck. Note sparing of some of the creases.
Toxic epidermal necrolysis–like eruption.
 
 
 
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