Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42544818›Full record

Observational studyExperimental dermatology2026

LC-OCT for Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus: Characterization Across Disease Subtypes and Differentiation From Rosacea.

Daniele Omar Traini, Gerardo Palmisano, Rebecca Ventura, Maria Vittoria Cannizzaro, Clara De Simone, Pierluigi Rizzuti, Viviana Antonella Pacucci, Pier Giacomo Cerasuolo, Silvia Piunno, Cesare Gavotti and 8 more

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Experimental dermatology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

18 authors.

Daniele Omar TrainiDermatology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0007-7926-3389
Gerardo PalmisanoDermatology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0000-9681-1681
Rebecca VenturaRheumatology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
Maria Vittoria CannizzaroDermatology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
Clara De SimoneDermatology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0898-0045
Pierluigi RizzutiRheumatology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0006-9876-5467
Viviana Antonella PacucciRheumatology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
Pier Giacomo CerasuoloRheumatology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
Silvia PiunnoRheumatology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3061-5418
Cesare GavottiRheumatology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
Mariarita VigilanteFaculty of Medicine and Surgery, Catholic University of Sacred Heart.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9253-960X
Alessio MaccariFaculty of Medicine and Surgery, Catholic University of Sacred Heart.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0001-1918-9769
Giacomo CaldarolaDermatology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8837-9232
Augusta OrtolanRheumatology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3131-0939
Mariano SuppaDepartment of Dermato-Oncology, Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9266-0342
Alessandro Di StefaniDermatology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8283-2633
Maria Antonietta D' AgostinoRheumatology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
Ketty PerisDermatology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1957-6600

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) encompasses a heterogeneous group of autoimmune skin manifestations that often overlap clinically with other inflammatory dermatoses, particularly rosacea. While histopathology remains the gold standard, its invasiveness limits routine and longitudinal use. Line-field confocal optical coherence tomography (LC-OCT) is an emerging non-invasive imaging modality capable of providing real-time, near-histological resolution of skin architecture. In this single-center cross-sectional observational study, 45 patients (30 CLE: 16 acute, 5 subacute, 9 chronic; 15 rosacea) underwent LC-OCT imaging of active lesions. Images were independently evaluated using predefined criteria reflecting histopathological features. LC-OCT identified key histopathological correlates of CLE in vivo. Interface dermatitis features (including dermoepidermal junction disruption, basal cell vacuolization and band-like inflammatory infiltrate) were highly prevalent in ACLE and SCLE, while chronic CLE was characterized by epidermal atrophy, hyperkeratosis, fibrosis and adnexal destruction. In contrast, rosacea exhibited a vascular and folliculocentric pattern with frequent peri-adnexal inflammation and Demodex infestation, without interface changes. Interobserver agreement was substantial to excellent for most criteria. In the ACLE versus rosacea comparison, interface dermatitis features like band-like DEJ infiltrate, DEJ disruption, basal vacuolization and apoptotic bodies were associated with ACLE. Conversely, rosacea exhibited a vascular-folliculocentric profile with peri-infundibular infiltrates and Demodex mites. In conclusion, LC-OCT enables non-invasive visualization of disease-specific microarchitectural patterns in CLE, reflecting both inflammatory and chronic remodelling changes. In this pilot study, it shows potential in differentiating CLE from rosacea and may support diagnosis, staging and treatment monitoring in clinical practice. Larger, multicenter studies are required to confirm the role of LC-OCT in the non-invasive diagnosis of CLE.

Indexed as

Lupus Erythematosus, CutaneousRosaceaTomography, Optical CoherenceAdultAgedCross-Sectional StudiesDiagnosis, DifferentialFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedSkincutaneous lupusimagingLC‐OCTline field optical coherence tomographylupus

Identifiers

PMID42544818
PMCPMC13430679

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.