Lichen planus and cicatricial conjunctivitis: disease course and response to therapy of 11 patients

• Published in: Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Vol. 25; no. 1; pp. 100 - 104
• Main Authors: Brewer, JD, Ekdawi, NS, Torgerson, RR, Camilleri, MJ, Bruce, AJ, Rogers III, RS, Maguire, LJ, Baratz, KH
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.01.2011
• Subjects: cicatricial conjunctivitis; Cicatrix - complications; Conjunctivitis - complications; Conjunctivitis - pathology; Conjunctivitis - therapy; cyclosporin; epiphora; Female; Humans; lichen planus; Lichen Planus - pathology; Lichen Planus - therapy; Male; Middle Aged; restasis; Retrospective Studies; symblepharon; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0926-9959; 1468-3083
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2010.03693.x

Background  Lichen planus is an autoimmune, inflammatory dermatosis of unknown cause that affects the skin and mucous membranes. Objective  The aim of this study was to report the clinical features and response to therapy in a series of patients with ocular lichen planus. Methods  A retrospective chart review was performed to identify patients with ocular lichen planus. Information about clinical presentation, treatment, and therapeutic response was extracted from the medical records. Results  Eleven patients with ocular lichen planus were identified. The diagnosis was confirmed histologically for 10 patients. Nine patients were women. The average time from onset of ocular symptoms to diagnosis was 4.1 years. Eight patients had mucous membrane involvement at other sites. Disease was well controlled in eight patients. Conclusion  Lichen planus should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cicatricial conjunctivitis, especially when severe lichen planus is noted at other sites.