Molecular Studies on Cutaneous Lupus
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Summary
Approximately 1.4 million individuals in the United States have systemic lupus erythematosus, and about 85% of these individuals develop skin lesions at some point of their disease. Cutaneous lupus erythematosus represents the skin manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus, and can appear in people with or without systemic lupus. It is a mentally, physically, and emotionally debilitating disease that affects both the quality of life and social well-being of those affected. The cause of cutaneous lupus is not completely understood, but likely includes multiple factors from our genes and the environment. Multiple genetic studies with small numbers of cutaneous lupus patients have been performed to determine which genes are associated with cutaneous lupus. This study aims to accumulate even larger numbers of patients to confidently identify genes and the proteins they encode that could contribute greatly to the formation of cutaneous lupus. The discovery of these genes and proteins would help not only uncover how cutaneous lupus forms, but also improve our abilities to diagnose this disease and predict its course, and stimulate new drug development.
Description
The purpose of this study is to create a national registry of patients with cutaneous lupus patients in order to address many unknown questions about this disease. Specifically, we are interested in better understanding the causes of cutaneous lupus and improving our methods of diagnosis, prognosis, and management of this disease. We plan to use information from all patient sources, including medical histories, clinical information, laboratory data, and blood and skin samples in order to answer these questions. Each study patient will be asked to complete a series of questionnaires, which, fo…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosed with cutaneous lupus erythematosus and/or systemic lupus erythematosus by clinical, laboratory, and histopathological findings * Ability to speak and read English or Spanish at a 6th grade reading level (a translator will be available with additional consent forms in Spanish) * Ability to give written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Less than 18 years of age, since the characteristics of the disease in these subjects could be very different * Due to a medication, in which its discontinuation results in the resolution of cutaneous lupus, since the chara…
Location
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center DallasDallas, Texas