Abstract: We reported a 52-year-old patient with systemic lupus erythematosus complicated by calcinosis cutis. The patient had a 20-year history of systemic lupus erythematosus with lupus nephritis, and presented with multiple subcutaneous indurations in the left hip, sacrococcygeal region and bilateral lower legs for more than 10 years, as well as ulceration and exudation of the left hip lesion for over 10 days. Serum calcium and phosphorus levels were normal, and imaging revealed multiple subcutaneous calcifications. The patient was diagnosed with generalized dystrophic calcinosis cutis. After anti-infective therapy, the ulcerative lesion was surgically resected with satisfactory postoperative recovery, while asymptomatic lesions were managed by conservative observation. Literature review indicates that calcinosis cutis secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus is rare, mostly dystrophic, and its pathogenesis is associated with local tissue injury, inflammation and microenvironmental changes. Treatment should be individualized: symptomatic lesions complicated by ulceration or infection can be surgically excised, whereas asymptomatic lesions are mainly monitored with active control of the primary disease.

Key words: systemic lupus erythematosus, calcinosis cutis