LE or not LE--that is the question: an unsuccessful attempt to separate lymphocytic infiltration from the spectrum of discoid lupus erythematosus.

Lymphocytic infiltration of the skin (LIS) has been claimed to be a distinct entity that differs from discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) by the lack of epidermal changes, negative immunofluorescence tests, and differences in the composition of the inflammatory cell infiltrate. In studies that sought to distinguish both conditions, however, cases of established lupus erythematosus without epidermal involvement have not been considered. We studied 72 patients with the clinical and histopathologic diagnosis of either LIS or DLE in regard to the same clinical, histopathologic, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemical criteria. No significant differences were noted between cases with and without epidermal involvement on the one hand and between cases with and without immunofluorescence or clinical findings suggestive of lupus erythematosus on the other. Based on our findings, it is not possible to separate LIS from the spectrum of DLE.