DESCRIPTION OF A CLINICAL CASE OF DISCOID LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS IN A COMPLEX PATIENT WITH PROBABLE SIGNS OF SYSTEMIC DAMAGE

Background. Autoimmune diseases represent a large group of various pathological processes, among which connective tissue diseases become increasingly interesting in modern medicine. Etiopathogenetic mechanisms of autoimmune diseases of connective tissue remain unclear, they are characterized by a variety of clinical manifestations and symptoms. This publication provides an example of the main links in the etiopathogenesis of autoimmune processes, in particular, such a disease as lupus erythematosus, indicating the multifactorial nature of this pathology, the risk of possible transformation of cutaneous forms into systemic lesions, the role of antinuclear factor as a diagnostic criterion for many autoimmune diseases. Purpose. To present an interesting case of discoid lupus erythematosus in an adult patient who has been suffering from the disease for a long time — 6 years. The presence of possible manifestations of systemic damage (clinical symptoms and laboratory test results) in combination withsomatic pathology in this patient raised clinical interest. Materials and methods. The clinical case of patient N., 57 years old, with probable signs of systemic process - presence of general and local clinical symptoms, as well as laboratory test data is described and analyzed. Blood was tested for antinuclear factor by indirect immunofluorescence on the HEp-2 cell line. Results. Positive dynamics of the clinical picture of the disease and the results of laboratory blood tests were noted. No convincing data for the systemic nature of the process were found. Conclusions. The clinical observation of a patient with discoid lupus erythematosus presented here indicates that timely diagnosis of this pathological process is very important for developing a treatment strategy with the aim of a favorable prognosis of the disease and improving the quality of life of elderly patients.