Do patients with DLE develop systemic lupus erythematosus?

If the initial workup of a patient with localized lesions of DLE does not reveal evidence of SLE, the risk of developing SLE is about 5%. If lesions are generalized, the risk is slightly higher. However, DLE lesions are not uncommon in patients with an established diagnosis of SLE. About 25% of SLE patients will develop lesions of DLE at some time in the course of their disease (Table 22-3).