Monitoring
Patients with DLE should be monitored every 6-12 months if lesions are inactive, and more frequently if lesions are active and difficult to treat.[15] Follow-up with complete blood count and urinalysis is sufficient for patients with inactive lesions. However, for patients with active and more resistant lesions, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, serologic tests, blood urea nitrogen, and a serum electrolyte panel should also be performed at every follow-up visit to detect progression to systemic lupus erythematosus as early as possible.[15]
Patients taking immunosuppressant agents should be evaluated for complications of treatment.[15]
Regular ophthalmologic visits are necessary for those taking an antimalarial agent, to monitor for signs of ocular toxicity. Annual screening for retinopathy is recommended in patients who have received hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine for 5 years, and may be considered for patients who have additional risk factors for retinal toxicity, such as concomitant tamoxifen therapy, or impaired renal function (estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/ minute/1.73 m²), or if the daily dose of hydoxychloroquine is 5 mg/kg or more.[12]
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