[ANF-negative subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus with anti-Ro antibodies. A new subset of lupus with characteristic skin manifestations].

Recently a new subset of lupus erythematosus with distinct cutaneous lesions has been defined as subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus. The salient clinical features are transient nonscarring widespread erythematosquamous or annular eruptions on the trunk and arms, cytopenia, musculo-skeletal symptoms and sometimes mild renal and cerebrovascular disease. Although more than one half of the patients have positive antinuclear factor tests, in a smaller proportion only antibodies against the predominantly cytoplasmic antigens Ro and sometimes La can be demonstrated. Due to the negative routine serologic findings the typical cutaneous lesions assume additional importance, because they frequently allow a clinical diagnosis even in the absence of more sophisticated immunologic procedures.