Hypertrophic LE results in thickened and warty skin resembling viral warts or skin cancers. Rarely, discoid lupus occurs on the palms and/or soles (palmoplantar LE).
If the hair follicles are involved, they are first plugged with adherent scale and then bald areas can develop. If the follicles are destroyed, the bald patches are permanent (scarring alopecia).
Recent research has found an association between certain lupus patients (especially those with lupus nephritis) and an impairment in degrading neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). These were due to DNAse1 inhibiting factors, or NET protecting factors in patient serum, rather than abnormalities in the DNAse1 itself.
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