Multiple dermatofibromas and systemic lupus erythematosus

We report on three black women with multiple dermatofibromas and systemic lupus erythematosus. In one patient occurrence of new dermatofibromas was definitely related to increases in corticosteroid dosage, but in another the dermatofibromas predated all treatment. Histopathologic, ultrastructural, and direct immunofluorescence studies of lesions of two of the patients showed characteristic changes of dermatofibroma but did not reveal a specific cause. This finding in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus is probably much more common than has previously been appreciated.