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Acute Cutaneous Lupus — SCE Dermatology MCQ

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HardConnective Tissue & VasculitisAcute Cutaneous LupusSCE Dermatology

A 30-year-old woman with SLE presents with a transient erythematous rash across both cheeks and the bridge of the nose that spares the nasolabial folds. It worsens with sun exposure. What type of cutaneous lupus does this represent?

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Correct answer: A — Acute cutaneous lupus (malar/butterfly rash)

The best answer is “Acute cutaneous lupus (malar/butterfly rash)”. Cutaneous lupus phenotypes are distinguished by morphology, distribution, photosensitivity, histology and systemic context; serology supports but does not replace clinicopathological assessment. The alternatives “Subacute annular cutaneous lupus erythematosus”, “Chronic discoid lupus erythematosus”, “Dermatomyositis with centrofacial erythema”, “Rosacea with persistent centrofacial telangiectasia” are clinically adjacent possibilities, but they do not fit the defining morphology, distribution, histopathology, risk signal or management sequence in this stem.

Reference: DermNet specialist cutaneous lupus reference: https://dermnetnz.org/topics/cutaneous-lupus-erythematosus