INCIDENCE OF CUTANEOUS MANIFESTATIONS IN PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS: AN INTEGRATIVE LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, multifactorial autoimmune disease characterized by loss of immunological tolerance and the production of autoantibodies directed against nuclear and cytoplasmic components. Among its clinical manifestations, cutaneous lesions are among the most frequent and reflect the systemic immunological activity of the disease. This study aimed to analyze, through an integrative literature review, the incidence and main immunological mechanisms associated with cutaneous manifestations in patients with SLE. Searches were conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, Embase, SciELO, and Web of Science databases, covering the period from 2015 to 2024. The results indicated a prevalence of cutaneous manifestations between 70% to 85% of cases, with a predominance of malar rash, discoid lupus, and subacute cutaneous lupus. The central role of the type I interferon–plasmacytoid dendritic cell axis in the pathogenesis of these lesions was highlighted, associated with photosensitivity and the presence of anti-Ro/SSA autoantibodies. It is concluded that cutaneous involvement in SLE represents a relevant marker of immunological activity and should be considered an essential parameter for diagnosis and clinical follow-up.