
I will start by describing SLE before moving onto the other types:
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
This is the one I talk about the most, because it is the one that I have. This type of lupus can affect anything and everything in the body, hence the term 'systemic', which means that it can affect multiple parts of the body. SLE can affect the skin, organs and other body tissues. It varies in severity, ranging from life-threatening to so mild that it is barely noticeable. Those of us with this disorder can experience a range of symptoms, including the most common ones such as joint pain, migraines, skin rashes, photo-sensitivity, organ malfunction and failure, chest pain, blood disorders, neuropsychiatric manifestations, muslce pains, oral and nasal ulcers, fatigue and fevers. SLE is very unpredictable and each flare up is different. Some flare ups may be short-lived, or last for ages; or you may experience one flare up after another, or have a flare up and not get another for years. Every lupus patient is different. The treatments include steroids, immune suppressants, biologics and anti-malarials. There is currently research into newer potential treatments, such as DHEA.
Cutaneous lupus
This is a large family of lupus types that primarily affects the skin. The Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) say that cutaneous lupus can cause "types of rashes and lesions" with the most common being 'discoid rashes', which causes disc-like rashes that are "raised, scaly and red". Cutaneous lupus rashes may manifest as a malar rash (the butterfly rash) over the checks and nose. This form of lupus can affect various parts of the skin, showing particularly strongly in parts of the skin exposed to sunlight. Hair loss is another way cutaneous lupus affects the skin. The LFA add that "approximately 10 % of people who have cutaneous lupus will develop systemic lupus."
There are three subtypes of cutaneous lupus, including acute cutaneous lupus, subacute cutaneous lupus and chronic cutaneous lupus.
Acute cutaneous lupus typically manifests as the malar (butterfly) rash, as mentioned above. The form of cutaneous lupus develops on skin that is exposed to sunlight, particularly on the face such as the nose and cheeks. It may manifest as non-scarring lesions or red patches (typically flat). The rash may resemble sunburn. ACLE mostly occurs alongside systemic lupus. These patches can also occur on other parts of the body such as the limbs and chest, where the skin may be exposed to sunlight. Other symptoms may include skin pigment changes, oral and nasal ulcers, hair loss and itchy hive-like rashes.
Subacute cutaneous lupus. This version of lupus typically causes non-scarring lesions that commonly appears on skin exposed to UV light. It usually presents as a non-itching rash, which may manifest as skin lumps, vasculitis rashes, circular shapes or as scaly bumps. SCLE often occurs with systemic lupus.
Chronic cutaneous lupus is also known as discoid lupus.
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The singer Seal suffers with discoid lupus |
Other forms of skin lupus
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Tumid Lupus |
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Lupus profundus |

Drug-induced Lupus
This form of lupus is caused by certain medications, which stops (in most cases) when the offending medication is stopped. Symptoms are similar to SLE, but they tend to be milder, with this form of lupus rarely causing organ damage. The most common symptoms include joint and muscle pain and inflammation, with low-grade fevers and rashes. St. Thomas's Lupus Trust have provided a list of some of the most common drugs that have been known to trigger drug-induced lupus:
There is a list of over 100 drugs that can cause lupus, the symptoms will often appear after a person has been on high doses of the medication over a number of years.
Below are just some of the drugs and chemicals:
Below are just some of the drugs and chemicals:
Proven Association:
Chlorpromazine, Hydralazine (used to treat high blood pressure), Penicillamine, Isoniazid, a-Methyldopa, Procainamide (used to treat tachyycardia), Sulphasalazine (used in colitis, crohn's disease and rheumatoid arthritis).
Tentative Association:
Acebutol, Atenolol, Captopril, Carbamezapine, Cimetidine, Dapsone, Ethosuximide, Hydrazine, Oxyprenolol
Pheneizine, Phenytoin, Pindolol, Practolol, Propranolol, Propylthiouracil, Quinidine
Chlorpromazine, Hydralazine (used to treat high blood pressure), Penicillamine, Isoniazid, a-Methyldopa, Procainamide (used to treat tachyycardia), Sulphasalazine (used in colitis, crohn's disease and rheumatoid arthritis).
Tentative Association:
Acebutol, Atenolol, Captopril, Carbamezapine, Cimetidine, Dapsone, Ethosuximide, Hydrazine, Oxyprenolol
Pheneizine, Phenytoin, Pindolol, Practolol, Propranolol, Propylthiouracil, Quinidine
Case Reports:
Allopurinol, Chloprothixene, Chlorthalidone, Debrisoquine, Ethylphenacimide, Gold Salts, Grisofulvin, L-Canavarine, Methysegide, Oral Contraceptives, Penicillin, Phenybuzatone, Reserpine, Streptomycin
Tetracycline (in particular Minocycline, used for acne).
Not everyone who takes these medications will develop drug-induced lupus. For reasons that are currently unknown, this form of lupus develops in some individuals taking those medications long-term but not in the majority of people who take these drugs.Allopurinol, Chloprothixene, Chlorthalidone, Debrisoquine, Ethylphenacimide, Gold Salts, Grisofulvin, L-Canavarine, Methysegide, Oral Contraceptives, Penicillin, Phenybuzatone, Reserpine, Streptomycin
Tetracycline (in particular Minocycline, used for acne).
Symptoms usually improve once the medication is stopped, within weeks, though a rare number of patients will continue to experience some symptoms in the future. NSAIDs and/or steroids are often prescribed to bring down the inflammation caused by this form of lupus.
Neonatal Lupus
Late Onset Lupus
Other Rare Sub-types of Lupus
Lupus with lichen planus overlap is a rare sub-type of lupus affecting the skin, which "combines the features of both lupus and lichen planus". Symptoms include lesions that "mostly affect the distal arms, legs, face and trunk" and plaques that "are often painful, centrally atrophic, bluish-red to hypo-pigmented in colour, large, and scaly."
Hypertrophic lupus erythematosus is also known as verrucous lupus erythematosus. It is a rare form of cutaneous lupus "characterised by verrucous lesions, chronic in its course, and resistant to treatment."
Sources in order of appearance:
Systemic Lupus: for more information about systemic lupus, I recommend the Lupus Foundation of America and Lupus UK.
Acute cutaneous lupus: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1065292-overview
Subacute cutaneous lupus: https://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/lupus.html
Chronic cutaneous lupus: http://dermnetnz.org/immune/cutaneous-lupus.html
Tumid lupus: http://dermnetnz.org/immune/cutaneous-lupus.html
Lupus profundus: http://dermnetnz.org/immune/cutaneous-lupus.html
Bullous lupus: http://www.medicinenet.com/bullous_pemphigoid/page2.htm
Drug induced lupus: http://www.lupus.org.uk/what-is-lupus/drug-induced-lupus-dle
Neonatal lupus: Lupus Foundation of America
Late onset lupus: http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=32478
Chillblain lupus: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10342714
Lichen planus: http://lup.sagepub.com/content/early/2013/06/11/0961203313492243
Hypertrophic Lupus: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12859742