Objective: To retrospectively study the incidence of chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CCLE) in French Guiana (FG), South America, during the period 1995-1999.
Methods: Private and public physicians specializing in dermatology, rheumatology, and internal medicine were asked during the year 2000 about lupus cases. We reviewed hospitals' files in data-processing departments.
Results: Twenty new cases of CCLE, mostly discoid form, were identified during this 5-year period in this population of predominantly African descent. The average annual incidence of the disease was 2.59 per 100,000 inhabitants (95% confidence interval 1.5-4). However, our methodology could introduce underestimation of the incidence of the disease.
Conclusion: The average annual incidence of CCLE in FG appears to be low in this retrospective study, but is very similar to the only previously published data in the US.