MUC5AC and anemia: This may explain the failure to achieve healing despite systemic antibiotic therapy and drainage.[9] More importantly, SLE patients often exhibit histopathological changes such as cutaneous small-vessel vasculitis and mucin deposition.[10] These are compounded by microcirculatory disturbances due to long-term corticosteroid use and systemic metabolic imbalances – such as anemia and hypoproteinemia – all of which contribute to a multifactorial basis for impaired wound healing.[10–15]