Dermatopathology of rheumatologic diseases

Rheumatologic diseases are multisystem disorders that may initially manifest in the skin and accurate dermatopathologic diagnosis can lead to the identification of a systemic disorder. We review the clinical presentation and histopathologic findings in rheumatologic disease. This includes the variants of lupus: acute, subacute and chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus, tumid lupus, discoid lupus, lupus panniculitis, nonbullous lupus, and depigmented lesions in lupus. Also discussed are dermatomyositis, systemic sclerosis and vasculitides, including leukocytoclastic vasculitis, lymphocytic vasculitis, neutrophilic vasculitis, polyarteritis nodosa, nodular vasculitis, eosinophilic vasculitis, granulomatous vasculitis, Henoch-Scḧnlein purpura and cryoglobulinemia.