The association of lichen sclerosus and erosive lichen planus of the vulva with autoimmune disease: a case-control study.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the prevalence of autoimmune disease and circulating autoantibodies in women with lichen sclerosus (LS) and erosive lichen planus (LP) of the vulva and to compare these with a control population.


METHODS
Age- and sex-matched controlled study.


METHODS
The vulval clinics in Oxfordshire, England, for patients with LS and LP. Healthy controls were recruited from the hospital and community.


METHODS
A total of 190 women with the typical features of adult-onset LS of the vulva, 126 women with adult-onset erosive LP of the vulva, and 922 female controls (of whom 230 were examined).


METHODS
Personal history of autoimmune disorder for patients and controls, family history of autoimmune disorder for vulval LS and LP cohorts, and an autoantibody screen.


METHODS
The presence or absence of a personal or family history of autoimmune disorder, and the presence or absence of 1 or more circulating autoantibodies.


RESULTS
The mean ages of patients with LS, patients with erosive LP, and control patients were 63, 61, and 61 years, respectively. The mean age of the 230 controls examined (including those who had serum autoantibodies assayed) was 62 years. Autoimmune disorders were more frequent in patients with erosive LP compared with controls (29% vs 9%; P < .001) and in those with LS compared with controls (28% vs 9%; P < .001). Circulating autoantibodies were more frequent in those with erosive LP compared with controls (41% vs 20%; P < .001). Conclusion This study demonstrates an association of autoimmune disorder and autoantibodies with erosive LP of the vulva and confirms the autoimmune associations of vulval LS.
Cooper
Susan M
SM
Department of Dermatology, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, England. sue.cooper@orh.nhs.uk
Ali
Iaisha
I
Baldo
Maha
M
Wojnarowska
Fenella
F
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008010:Lichen Planus / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D018459:Lichen Sclerosus et Atrophicus / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014845:Vulvar Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D007724:Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
D001323:Autoantibodies