Cutaneous Immunofluorescence Studies to Adult Rheumatoid Arthritis in Sun-exposed and Non-sun-exposed Areas

The incidence and significance of positive cutaneous immunofluorescence findings were assessed in biopsy specimens of both sun‐exposed and non‐sun‐exposed skin of 34 adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who were not receiving systemic corticosteroids. The incidence of lupus erythomatosus (LE)‐band was low (8.6%) in both groups. Twenty‐eight percent of the patients had perivascular IgM and lor C3 deposits, and 74% had cytoid bodies in the papillary dermis. These studies indicate that the incidence of LE band is low in RA and that the detection of such a band in normal skin warrants close follow‐up of RA patients for possible development of LE.