Study Shows Cutaneous Lupus May Have A Genetic Component, Especially Among Black People with Lupus

In a recent study of people with cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE, skin disease in someone with lupus), researchers found that having a family history of CLE was a significant predictor of CLE. About one in three people with CLE reported having a family history of either CLE and/or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, often referred to simply as “lupus”), and family history was an especially strong predictor in Black people with CLE.

Researchers analyzed data from 338 people with CLE seen in outpatient dermatologists’ clinics in Dallas, Texas. Among all study participants with CLE, they found:

• About 50% also had SLE
• 34% reported a positive family history of CLE and/or SLE
• 7% had relatives with CLE specifically, and 5% had a first-degree relative (a parent, sibling, or child) with CLE •
• 64% of Black participants reported a family history of CLE and/or SLE compared to 45% of non-Black participants

Approximately two-thirds of people with lupus will develop some form of skin disease. The latest data suggest that healthcare providers can use family history information as one predictor of CLE risk and encourage at-risk patients to check for family histories of lupus. These findings may also lay the groundwork for advancements in genetic lupus research. Learn more about cutaneous lupus.

Read the study