[Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus. Review of the literature and immunological studies of 11 patients].

Following a broad review of the literature referring to the histopathological clinical, immunological and immunogenetic characteristics of a particular variety of recently identified cutaneous lupus erythematosus, namely subacute lupus erythematous, the results of immunopathological studies in 11 patients (6 of whom presented the ring polycyclic variety and 5 the psoriasiform variety) are reported. Serum and skin samples were compared in both varieties and it was noted that there is: 1) a more marked incidence of hypocomplementemia and the presence of immune circulating complexes in the ring-polycyclic variety; 2) a more frequent demonstration of IgG and C at the dermo-epidermic junction and on the edge of superficial derma vessels in the same variety. These findings are interpreted as being the consequence of a more frequent and severe systemic (and above all renal) impairment in the ring-polycyclic variety.