Histological and histochemical investigations of lupus erythematosus in the skin and the oral mucosa.

Skin and oral lesions of chronic discoid lupus erythematosus from 6 patients have been investigated histologically and histochemically. Intra-individual comparisons between skin and oral lesions and intrasection comparisons between clinically affected and unaffected regions were performed. Enzyme histochemical recordings consisted of oxido-reductase and hydrolase activities. A high degree of correlation was noted in the intra-individual comparisons. The intrasection comparisons provided information concerning metabolic dynamics of the disease. The data obtained support the view that serious vascular changes are involved in the development of the changes in the overlying epithelium. The enzyme histochemical results agreed generally with histological data and proved to be a valuable diagnostic aid.