HLA markers in familial Lichen Sclerosus

Background: Lichen sclerosus (LS) has been identified with increased frequency in families,often associated with HLA markers, mainly DQ7. A genetic co‐etiology seems likely in this setting. Moreover, there is an association of LS with autoimmune disorders, such as the presence of anti‐thyroid peroxidase autoantibodies (anti‐TPO), a hallmark of autoimmune thyroid diseases. Patients and Methods: In 3 families affected by LS, we verified their HLA markers, and identified previously undiagnosed cases of LS and autoimmune disorders. 30 individuals were examined with history, skin biopsy, HLA class I and II typing by PCR‐SSP, and measurement of anti‐TPO, free thyroxine and thyroidstimulating hormones (TSH) levels. Results: There were 8 cases of LS, 50 % of them anti‐TPO+. Autoimmune disorders were found in 40 % (total) and in 87.5 % of those affected. Most common HLA markers were B*15, B*57, CW*03, CW*07, CW*18, DRB1*04, DRB1*07, DRB4*. The three latter have been previously associated with LS. Conclusion: New cases of LS and autoimmune disorders can be detected in first degree relatives of patients with LS. The presence of anti‐TPO antibodies strongly suggests autoimmune thyroiditis. There is intra‐familial association between the haplotype HLA‐B*15 ‐DRB1*04 ‐DRB4* and anti‐TPO,emphasizing their link with thyroiditis. New familial approaches might help to make clear the pathogenesis of LS and its association with autoimmune diseases.     

Treatment of scleromyxoedema with hydroxychloroquine

Background: Scleromyxoedema is a rare disease of unknown aetiology that is characterized by deposition of mucin and sclerotic induration of the skin; it is associated with paraproteinaemia. Patients suffer from progressive disability due to immobilization and cosmetic disfigurement. Treatment of scleromyxoedema is a therapeutic challenge. The antimalarial hydroxychloroquine has a rapid and reliable effect in reticular erythematous mucinosis. Patients and methods: Four consecutive patients (two women, two men; median age: 50 years) with scleromyxoedema, three of them with IgG λ paraprotein, were treated with hydroxychloroquine. Treatment was initiated with 600 mg p. o. for 10 days, followed by 400 mg for at least 4 weeks, and 200 mg thereafter. Results: Complete remission of skin manifestations was achieved in one patient, whereas three patients achieved a partial remission of 61+, 5 and 25 months' duration. Notably, three patients felt increased mobility and reduced firmness of skin during the first week of treatment, which was reflected in a rapid reduction in dermal thickness. In one patient, dysphagia was reverted as evidenced by normalization of oesophageal clearance. Paraproteinaemia was not influenced at all. Side effects included one case of electroretinogram abnormalities after 19 months of therapy and one case of leucopenia after 3 months. Conclusion: Hydroxychloroquine is an effective form of therapy for scleromyxoedema, leading to rapid and prolonged alleviation of symptoms.     

Two cases of lichen planus pigmentosus presenting with a linear pattern

We report two cases of lichen planus pigmentosus (LPP) that developed in a unilateral linear pattern. The patients presented with unilateral linear brown macules on the extremities. Skin biopsy showed orthokeratosis, basal hydropic degeneration with scarce lymphohistiocytic infiltrates, and numerous melanophages in both patients. These patients, to the best of our knowledge, are the first cases of LPP presenting with a linear pattern. LPP should be considered in the differential diagnosis of linear hyperpigmented skin lesions.     

Orale pr?kanzer?se Konditionen—eine übersicht

Zusammenfassung Präkanzeröse Konditionen (Zustände) umfassen Erkrankungen, die mit einem signifikant erhöhten Krebsrisiko verbunden sind. Dazu gehören die sideropenische Dysphagie, der orale Lichen planus (OLP), die orale submuköse Fibrose (OSF), die Syphilis, der diskoide Lupus erythematodes (DLE), das Xeroderma pigmentosum sowie die Epidermolysis bullosa. Die Zahl publizierter Fälle von oralen oder perioralen Transformationen zu Karzinomen ist für einige dieser Erkrankungen klein. Auch sind Zungenkarzinome oder Karzinome der Mundhöhle bei Spätsyphilis eher von historischem Interesse, obwohl in den 90er Jahren immer noch auf eine mögliche Assoziation einer positiven Syphilisserologie und dem Auftreten eines Zungenkarzinoms hingewiesen wurde. Der OLP ist eine nach wie vor kontrovers diskutierte präkanzeröse Kondition. Transformationsraten werden zwischen 0 und 5,6% angegeben. Neuere Untersuchungen, v. a. prospektive Studien, weisen darauf hin, dass möglicherweise die orale lichenoide Reaktion (OLR) Ausgangszustand einer Transformation ist und nicht der klassische OLP. Die Differenzierung zwischen OLP und OLR ist sowohl vom klinischen als auch vom histopathologischen Aspekt nach wie vor schwierig. Zweitwichtigste präkanzeröse Kondition ist die OSF, die durch das Kauen von Betel in Süd- und Südostasien bedingt wird. Mit 7,6% liegt für die OSF die höchste Transformationsrate aller präkanzerösen Konditionen vor.

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Early onset vulvar Lichen Sclerosus in premenopausal women and oral contraceptives

OBJECTIVE: For vulvar Lichen sclerosus (LS) immunological factors, genetic predisposition, and decreased 5 alpha-reductase activity have been discussed as aetiological factors. During the last decade an increase of LS in young women has been suspected. Aim of this study was to evaluate data of premenopausal women with early onset LS to find potential risk factors focussing on the use of oral contraceptives. STUDY DESIGN: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 40 premenopausal patients with early onset LS regarding use of oral contraceptives (OCPs), and first occurrence of LS. To compare these data in a case-control study we analyzed a matched control group of 110 healthy women. RESULTS: All our LS patients were using OCPs compared to 73 women (66.4%) in the control group. OCPs with anti-androgenic activity (chlormadinone acetate, cyproterone acetate, dienogest, and drospirenone) were used by 28 (70%) of the LS patients and by 35 (47.9%) of the 73 women using OCPs in the control group. Thus, the odds ratio for early onset LS for women using anti-androgenic OCPs was 2.53 (95% CI: 1.12-5.75). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that disturbance of the androgen dependent growth of the vulvar skin by OCPs and especially by OCPs with anti-androgenic properties might trigger the early onset of LS in a subgroup of susceptible young women.     

活血化瘀中药治疗扁平苔癣的初步探讨

目的探讨应用中药活血化瘀法治疗30例扁平苔癣的临床疗效。方法将60例扁平苔癣的患者随机分为治疗组30例，对照组30例。治疗组采用中药活血化瘀法进行辨证治疗，对照组采用外敷泼尼松药膜加氯喹0．25g，2次／d口服。结果治疗组与对照组疗效差异有统计学意义，病理部位不同，治疗效果差异无统计学意义。结论中药活血化瘀法治疗扁平苔癣有显著的疗效。     

白细胞介素35对口腔扁平苔藓患者外周血辅助性T细胞17与调节性T细胞平衡的影响

目的探讨外源性白细胞介素(interleukin,IL)35对口腔扁平苔藓(oral lichen planus,OLP)患者外周血中辅助性T细胞17(helper T cell 17,Th17)与调节性T细胞(regulatory T cell,Treg)平衡的影响。方法选取2016年10至12月就诊于贵州医科大学附属医院口腔内科黏膜专科门诊的12例OLP患者外周血(OLP组)(男性1例,女性11例,26~68岁;其中非糜烂型OLP4例,糜烂型OLP 8例),同期收集贵州医科大学附属医院体检中心的13名健康人外周血(健康对照组)(男性1名,女性12名,20~68岁),无菌提取两组外周血单个核细胞,流式细胞术(flow cytometry,FCM)分选外周血CD4+T细胞,采用实时荧光定量PCR(quantitative real-time PCR,qPCR)检测两组外周血CD4+T细胞中Th17、Treg细胞特异转录因子维甲酸相关孤核受体γt(retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptorγt,RORγt)、叉头状转录因子(forkhead box3,Foxp3)mRNA表达水平;将OLP患者外周血分选出的CD4+T细胞分为实验组与对照组,实验组加入重组人IL-35蛋白(recombinant human IL-35,rhIL-35),对照组加入等体积磷酸盐缓冲液,分别进行细胞体外培养,收集培养结束后的细胞,qPCR检测上述因子的表达水平。结果OLP组CD4+T细胞中Foxp3、RORγt mRNA的相对表达量[M(Q25,Q75)分别为0.15(0.09,0.30)和1.04(0.45,2.15)]均显著大于健康对照组[分别为0.04(0.02,0.06)和0.10(0.05,0.11)](Z=-4.134,P<0.01;Z=-3.699,P<0.01)。OLP组RORγt/Foxp3 mRNA比值[6.22(3.67,15.34)]显著大于健康对照组[2.50(1.24,5.23)](Z=-2.665,P=0.007)。OLP患者外周血实验组CD4+T细胞Foxp3 mRNA相对表达量[0.40(0.21,1.22)]显著大于对照组[0.15(0.11,0.26)](Z=-2.510,P=0.012),两组RORγt mRNA表达差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),实验组RORγt/Foxp3 mRNA比值[3.44(1.55,8.16)]显著小于对照组[6.22(4.43,12.21)](Z=-2.746,P=0.006)。结论OLP患者外周血中存在Th17细胞占优势的Th17/Treg平衡异常,外源性IL-35可通过促进Treg细胞扩增,实现对OLP患者外周血中Th17/Treg平衡的调节。     

A Case of Generalized Lichen Sclerosus et Atrophicus

A 62-year-old female, with previous history of asthma and hypertension, presented with generalized hyperpigmented skin lesion, found a year ago. Physical examination revealed brown colored lichenified and sclerotic patches on the lower abdomen and flexural areas of extremities. Punch biopsy was performed and histopathological examination revealed hyperkeratosis, follicular plugging and thinning in epidermis. In dermoepidermal junction, cleft like space separating atrophic epidermis and dermis was seen. Also, lichenoid lymphocytic infiltration was observed in mid-dermis. Based on clinical and histopathological findings, a diagnosis of generlaized lichen sclerosus et atrophicus (LSA) was made. Other laboratory examinations were unremarkable. As there is no standard treatment for LSA, the patient received various treatments including topical steroid, tacrolimus and narrow-band ultraviolet B therapy. The skin lesion has softened and its color improved after treatment. LSA is defined as infrequent chronic inflammatory dermatosis with anogenital and extragenital manifestations. Generalized type is rare and genital involvement is the most frequent and often the only site of involvement. We report this case as it is an uncommon type of LSA with generalized hyperpigmented and sclerotic skin lesion in a postmenopausal female patient.     

有表皮下水疱形成的急性泛发性扁平苔藓1例

患者男,49岁。全身起紫红色丘疹和丘疱疹3月余,伴瘙痒。皮肤科情况:躯干及四肢可见泛发性紫红色扁平丘疹及丘疱疹,粟粒至黄豆大小,以腰背部及双下肢受累为著,部分融合成斑块,上附少量白色鳞屑,不易刮除,可见Wickham纹。腰部皮损组织病理示:表皮角化过度,颗粒层局灶性增厚,棘层肥厚,基底细胞严重液化变性,表皮下水疱,真皮浅层单一核细胞带状浸润。诊断:急性泛发性扁平苔藓。