Lichen Sclerosus Et Atrophicus And Autoimmunity In 250 Women
TLDR Autoimmune-related phenomena do not affect the progression or characteristics of lichen sclerosus in women.
In a study conducted 38 years ago on the relationship between lichen sclerosus et atrophicus (LSA) and autoimmunity, 250 women with histologically confirmed LSA were examined. The study found that 52 women (20.8%) had a personal history of autoimmune-related diseases, 55 women (22%) had a family history of such diseases, and 109 women (43.6%) had one or more autoantibodies in a titre of 1:20 or greater. Despite these findings, the study concluded that there were no significant differences in the natural history of LSA between patients with autoimmune-related phenomena and those without. This included factors such as the duration of LSA, age at onset, relationship to puberty or menopause, sites of involvement, and malignant change in LSA-affected skin. The study suggested that the presence of autoimmune-related phenomena does not influence the progression or characteristics of LSA.