Serum pentraxin 3 in systemic lupus erythematosus: A potential indicator of cutaneous disease activity.

Background: Although skin manifestations are common in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), there is still a lack of a diagnostic marker for cutaneous involvement. Pentraxin3 (PTX3) has been studied in SLE patients; however, it has not been investigated in relation to cutaneous manifestations.

Objective: To assess the serum PTX3 level in SLE patients, and to investigate its relationship with disease activity as well as with variable skin manifestations.