Discoid lupus erythematosus and carrier status of X-linked chronic granulomatous disease.

Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE)-like lesions and recurrent aphthous-like stomatitis have often been described in carriers of X-linked chronic granulomatous disease (CGD). The capacity of the polymorphonuclear leucocytes to reduce nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) after stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate (NBT test), a function of normal oxidative metabolism, was determined in 34 patients with DLE of whom 17 also suffered from recurrent stomatitis. The NBT test turned out to be normal in all 34 patients, indicating that none of them were carriers of X-linked CGD. In spite of the negative results of this study it is recommended that all female patients suffering from DLE in combination with recurrent aphthous-like stomatitis are screened by means of the NBT test, because this examination is simple and inexpensive, and because of the importance of identifying carriers of CGD with a view to genetic guidance.