Testosterone maintenance therapy. Effects on vulvar lichen sclerosus treated with clobetasol propionate.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the possible effects of topical testosterone as maintenance therapy after clobetasol propionate treatment.


METHODS
Thirty-two patients with biopsy-proven vulvar lichen sclerosus (LS), after 24 weeks of treatment with 0.05% clobetasol propionate cream, were randomly distributed into two groups of 16 each and treated for a further length of time (24 weeks) with testosterone 2% ointment or a cream-based preparation (placebo). The patients were examined before and after treatment for symptoms, gross aspects and histologic features.


RESULTS
With clobetasol propionate all patients had a marked improvement (P < .001) in both clinical and histologic parameters. After clobetasol propionate therapy, the 16 testosterone-treated patients had significant worsening of their symptoms (P < .05%) and no evident changes in gross aspects (P = NS). The placebo-treated group had good symptomatic control of their disease, with no significant changes in symptoms or gross aspects (P = NS).


CONCLUSIONS
After the good results obtained with clobetasol propionate, treatment with testosterone appeared to have a negative effect, while a regularly provided emollient cream was useful in symptom control.
Cattaneo
A
A
Institute of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Florence, Italy.
Carli
P
P
De Marco
A
A
Sonni
L
L
Bracco
G
G
De Magnis
A
A
Taddei
G L
GL
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D002990:Clobetasol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018459:Lichen Sclerosus et Atrophicus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013739:Testosterone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007724:Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
D013739:Testosterone; D002990:Clobetasol