Middermal elastolysis in two patients with lupus erythematosus

Despite lupus erythematosus (LE) being considered a "connective tissue disease." little has been written about the elastic fiber changes in the skin of affected patients. Ws report our histologic findings in tno patients :vith unusual cutaneous lesions. Elastic fiber loss was noted, and scattered giant cells with elastic fiber phagocytosis were prominent in one patient. The findings are similar to those described for middermal elastolysis. Other authors have reported patients with LE and elastic fiber loss resembling anetoderma. We believe that a spectrum of elastic fiber changes can occur in patients with LE and may be induced by infiltrating lymphocytes and/or circulating antibodies.