In addition, these patients have an increased, though still small, risk for aggressive skin squamous cell carcinoma. Causes
Sun exposure triggers lesions in people with discoid lupus erythematous (DLE). Evidence does not clearly demonstrate a genetic component to DLE; however, genetics may predispose certain people to disease. Mechanism
Most experts consider DLE an autoimmune disease since pathologists see antibodies when they biopsy the lesions and look at the tissue under the microscope. However, scientists do not understand the connection between these antibodies and the lesions seen in discoid lupus.Possibly, UV light damages skin cells, which then release material from their nuclei. This material diffuses to the dermoepidermal junction, where it binds to circulating antibodies, thereby leading to a series of inflammatory reactions by the immune system.Alternatively, dysfunctional T cells may lead to the disease. Diagnosis
When a patient initially presents with discoid lupus, the doctor should ensure that the patient does not have systemic lupus erythematosus. The doctor will order tests to check for anti-nuclear antibodies in the patients serum, low white blood cell levels, and protein and/or blood in the urine.In order to help with diagnosis, the doctor may peel off the top layer of scale from a patients lesions in order to look at its underside. If the patients do indeed have discoid lupus, the doctor may see tiny spines of keratin that look like carpet tacks and are called langue au chat.Diagnosis is confirmed through biopsy. Typical biopsy findings include deposits of IgG and IgM antibodies at the dermoepidermal junction on direct immunofluorescence.
Other causes of hypoglycemia include kidney failure, certain tumors (such as insulinoma), liver disease, hypothyroidism, starvation, inborn error of metabolism, severe infections, reactive hypoglycemia and a number of drugs including alcohol. Low blood sugar may occur in otherwise healthy babies who have not eaten for a few hours. == References ==