Clinical evaluation of vulvar lichen sclerosus: case series
Kazandi, M.; Sahin, C.; Terek, M.C.; Cirpan, T.; Oztekin, K.
European Journal of Gynaecological Oncology 31(5): 555-558
2010
ISSN/ISBN: 0392-2936 PMID: 21061799 Document Number: 646157
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. 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. 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. 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.