[Erosive lichen of the scalp].
BACKGROUND
We report an exceptional clinical presentation of erosive lichen planus of the scalp associated with hepatitis C and idiopathic CD4 lymphocytopenia.


METHODS
A 90-year-old woman was hospitalized in May 1995 for erosive dermatosis of the scalp and alopecia, associated with ungual lesions. Histology of the scalp lesions demonstrated lichen and the serology tests were positive for hepatitis C. The patient also had severe CD4 lymphocytopenia (290/mm3). The lesions regressed with clobetasol and occlusion and growth of scalp hair turned.


CONCLUSIONS
Erosive lichen planus of the scalp has, to our knowledge, not been reported previously. The causal effect of drugs taken by this patient (tetrazepam and clorazepam) was not retained. Seropositivity for hepatitis C (with no evidence of active disease) was however probably not fortuitous. The association with CD4 lymphocytopenia merits discussion.
Brudy
L
L
Service de Dermatologie, Hôpital Saint-Joseph, Paris.
Janier
M
M
Reboul
D
D
Baviera
E
E
Bonvalet
D
D
Daniel
F
F
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D005260:Female; D006201:Hair Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008010:Lichen Planus / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008231:Lymphopenia / Q000150:complications; D009260:Nail Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D012536:Scalp Dermatoses / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology