This MedLibrary.org supplementary page on Butterfly rash is provided directly from the open source Wikipedia as a service to our readers. Please see the note below on authorship of this content, as well as the Wikipedia usage guidelines. To search for other content from our encyclopedia supplement, please use the form below:
Related Sponsors
In medicine, malar rash, also called butterfly rash, is a medical sign consisting of a characteristic form of facial rash. It is often seen in Lupus erythematosus but is not pathognomonic - it is also seen in other diseases such as dermatomyositis. Malar is Latin for "cheek".
The malar rash of lupus is red or purplish and mildly scaly. Characteristically, it has the shape of a butterfly and involves the bridge of the nose. Notably, the rash spares the naso-labial folds of the face, which contributes to its characteristic appearance.
A malar rash is present in approximately 46-65% of lupus sufferers and varies between different populations.123
There are numerous other conditions which can cause rashes with a similar appearance. Where lupus is suspected further medical tests (usually an ANA) and a detailed history are necessary to differentiate it from other conditions.
Trivia
Pop singer Seal has a malar rash on his face due to lupus.
References
- ^ Houman M, Smiti-Khanfir M, Ben Ghorbell I, Miled M (2004). "Systemic lupus erythematosus in Tunisia: demographic and clinical analysis of 100 patients". Lupus 13 (3): 204–11. PMID 15119551.
- ^ Houman M, Smiti-Khanfir M, Ben Ghorbell I, Miled M (2004). "Systemic lupus erythematosus in Tunisia: demographic and clinical analysis of 100 patients". Lupus 13 (3): 204–11. PMID 15119551.
- ^ Vilá L, Alarcón G, McGwin G, Friedman A, Baethge B, Bastian H, Fessler B, Reveille J (2004). "Early clinical manifestations, disease activity and damage of systemic lupus erythematosus among two distinct U.S. Hispanic subpopulations". Rheumatology (Oxford) 43 (3): 358–63. doi:. PMID 14623949.
External links
- http://library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/IMMHTML/IMM009.html
- http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/imagepages/2507.htm
 |
This medical sign article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
Wikipedia content modification information:
- This page was last modified on 4 November 2008, at 21:53.
Wikipedia Authorship and Review
Wikipedia content provided here is not reviewed directly by MedLibrary.org. Wikipedia content is authored by an open community of volunteers and is not produced by or in any way affiliated with MedLibrary.org.
Wikipedia Usage Guidelines
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article on "Butterfly rash".
The URL for this specific entry is:
All Wikipedia text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License. (See Copyrights for details). Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.