Rowell Syndrome: An Elusive Clinical Phenomenon and Comprehensive Review of the Literature

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and erythema multiforme (EM) are two very commonly known diseases; however, the coexistence of the two is a rare entity. SLE is a multisystem disease with the skin being the most commonly affected organ. EM is also known to affect the skin in the form of targetoid symmetrical skin lesions precipitated by certain infections and drugs. We present one such rare case of a 56-year-old female who presented with skin lesions and was diagnosed with SLE. On detailed evaluation of her skin lesions, she was diagnosed with EM, which, on further clinical, immunological and histological examination, was diagnosed as Rowell syndrome.