Frequency and Severity of Systemic Disease in Patients With Subacute Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus

OBJECTIVE To compare the frequency and severity of systemic disease in patients with subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE) followed up in a dermatology practice vs patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) followed up in a rheumatology practice. DESIGN Case-control comparison of patients matched for age, sex, and ethnicity. SETTING University-affiliated dermatology and rheumatology practices. PATIENTS Seventy-six patients with SCLE were compared with 24 patients with SLE. INTERVENTION All medical records were reviewed and the patients were interviewed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Systemic and serologic findings were compared between patients with SCLE and those with SLE. RESULTS Hematologic disorders were present in 6 patients (8%) with SCLE and in 13 patients (54%) with SLE (P