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Bullous lupus erythematosus is associated with antibodies directed against type VII collagen. This skin manifestation is a rare variant and occurs in patients with known systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In a previous study of military recruits who developed SLE, it was demonstrated that various autoantibodies precede the development of clinical disease.
These authors conduct an ongoing study of patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus and have been collecting and storing their sera. They were uniquely able, therefore, to examine the sera of a patient who developed bullous lupus erythematosus and to measure antibodies 3 months before the onset of clinical disease, at the time of diagnosis, and at a 12-month follow-up visit. They found t…