The records of twelve patients with discoid lupus erythematosus who attended the Social Hygiene Service, of the Department of Health, Hong Kong, during the period rom March 1987 through June 1994 were reviewed and analysed. Our series shows that discoid lupus erythematosus affects both men and women equally. Compared with studies in Caucasians, a higher proportion of our patients (17%) subsequently developed features that satisfied the American College of Rheumatology's revised classification criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus. Hence, regular follow up of these patients for the early detection of systemic lupus erythematosus is important.