Clinical evaluation of vulvar lichen sclerosus: case series.
BACKGROUND
Vulvar lichen sclerosus is a chronic dermatitis which is located in labial, perineal and perianal areas. The etiology of lichen sclerosus is multifactorial including genetic, autoimmune, hormonal and infectious aspects.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis was carried out of the medical records of 82 patients who were suffering from pruritus vulva. All patients had vulvar biopsy-proven diagnosis of lichen sclerosus.


RESULTS
Sixty-six of patients (80.4%) were in the postmenopausal period and 16 patients (19.5%) were in the premenopausal phase. Fifteen patients (18.2%) had thyroid disease, six had (7.3%) diabetes mellitus, five had (6.09%) asthma and five patients had (6.09%) other autoimmune diseases. Lichen sclerosus was most commonly located on the labia majora--58 cases (70.7%). Sixty-four patients (78.04%) had used only potent corticosteroid therapy as the sole treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The first-line treatment is topical-potent or ultra-potent corticosteroids in the treatment of lichen sclerosis. Vulvar lichen sclerosis may be associated with autoimmune and thyroid diseases.
Ege University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Izmir, Turkey. mert.kazandi@ege.edu.tr
M
M
Kazandi
C
C
Sahin
M C
MC
Terek
T
T
Cirpan
K
K
Oztekin
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002990:Clobetasol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D007724:Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D002990:Clobetasol