What is the risk for patients presenting with cutaneous lupus erythematosus in subsequently developing systemic lupus erythematosus?
The risk of developing systemic lupus erythematosus depends of the specific form of cutaneous lupus erythematosus that is diagnosed. Only one in 10 to 20 of patients presenting with classic discoid lupus erythematosus will go on to develop systemic disease. Approximately 50% of patients presenting with subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus or lupus profundus will develop relatively mild forms of systemic lupus erythematosus.
