Dec 172011
When lesions occur in hairy areas such as the beard or scalp, permanent scarring and hair loss can occur. A small percentage of patients with discoid lupus can develop disease of the internal organs, which can make the person sick.
Tests will include a skin biopsy and blood tests to look for other forms of discoid lupus erythematosus. The skin biopsy result is specific, but abnormal blood tests are not expected (abnormal blood tests are expected in the systemic type of lupus erythematosus).
Efalizumab (trade name, Raptiva™) is a kind of medication called a monoclonal antibody (often abbreviated mAb). The drug works by interfering with the function of overactive immune cells that are causing disease activity.
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