What are the causes of chronic discoid lupus erythematosus

Discoid lupus erythematosus is also a type of lupus on the red list, and it has both chronic and acute classifications. The rash of discoid lupus erythematosus usually presents as persistent red patches with obvious symptoms. There are many causes of chronic discoid lupus erythematosus.

Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is a chronic recurrent disease. The rash of DLE presents as persistent disc-shaped red patches, which are mostly round, quasi-round or irregular in shape, several millimeters in size or even more than 10 mm, with clear borders. The surface of the rash is covered with dilated capillaries and gray-brown sticky scales. There are keratin plug protrusions on the bottom of the scales. When the scales are peeled off, the dilated hair follicle openings can be seen.

Causes

1. Genetics

The prevalence of this disease varies among different ethnic groups. Family surveys show that about 10% to 20% of the first- and second-degree relatives of DLE patients may have similar diseases, some of which may present with hyperglobulinemia, multiple autoantibodies, and abnormal T suppressor cell function. The concordance rate for monozygotic twins is 24% to 57%, while that for dizygotic twins is 3% to 9%.

2. Medication

Drug-induced diseases can be divided into two categories. The first category is drugs that induce DLE symptoms, such as fenbuterol, gold preparations and other drugs. The second category is drugs that cause lupus-like syndrome, such as hydralazine hydrochloride (hydralazine), procainamide, chlorpromazine phenytoin sodium, isoniazid, etc.

3. Infection

Some people believe that its onset is related to infection with certain viruses (especially slow viruses). Inclusion body-like substances can be found in the patient's glomerular endothelial cell cytoplasm, vascular endothelial cells, and skin lesions. At the same time, the patient's serum virus titer increased, especially for measles virus, parainfluenza virus type I and II, Epstein-Barr virus, rubella virus and myxovirus.

4. Physical factors

Ultraviolet rays can induce skin lesions or aggravate existing skin lesions. In a few cases, they can induce or aggravate systemic lesions. The skin fluorescent band test will be positive two months later. Taking Atepipeline in advance can prevent skin lesions. Some people also believe that ultraviolet rays first damage skin cells, allowing anti-nuclear factors to enter the cells and interact with the cell nucleus, causing skin damage. Cold and strong electric light exposure can also induce or aggravate the disease. Some localized discoid lupus erythematosus can evolve into systemic type after exposure to the sun, and the chronic type can evolve into the acute type.

5. Endocrine factors

Given that this disease occurs significantly more often in women than in men, and that it often develops during the reproductive period, it is believed that estrogen is related to the occurrence of this disease. In addition, oral contraceptives can induce lupus-like syndrome.

6. Immune abnormalities

A person with DLE genetic predisposition will have his or her immune function disrupted under the influence of the above-mentioned factors. When the genetic factors are strong, weak external stimuli can cause the disease. On the contrary, when the genetic factors are weak, strong external stimulation is required for the disease to occur.