Study Objective

To assess long-term outcomes of lichen sclerosus (LS) in the female pediatric population, specifically in relation to patient age, treatment type and duration, and remission.

Design, Setting, Participants, Interventions, and Main Outcome Measures

Retrospective chart review was conducted to identify female pediatric patients (0-18 years of age) who were diagnosed with LS between January 1, 2015 and January 1, 2020 at the University of North Carolina Dermatology and/or Obstetrics and Gynecology Departments. Patients were contacted via telephone for follow-up interviews consisting of a series of questions regarding patient age, symptom onset, time of diagnosis, treatment, and current symptoms.

Results

Of the 128 patients identified, 61 patients consented and participated in follow-up interviews. At the time of study follow-up, 55/61 (90%) of participants reported their symptoms were improved. Patients reported using a variety of treatments, with medium- to high-potency topical steroids being the most common. At the time of follow-up, 53/61 (87%) of patients reported being asymptomatic, 37/53 (70%) of whom were not using any form of maintenance therapy. Those who achieved symptom resolution did so at an average of 8.4 years of age. There was no significant difference in age in asymptomatic patients receiving maintenance therapy and those receiving no maintenance therapy. There was a positive correlation for the duration of LS treatment and time in remission (P < .001). Increased patient age at time of follow-up also correlated positively with time in remission (P < .001).

Conclusion

In our cohort, the need for continued maintenance therapy was not correlated with age or, by proxy, pubertal status. Thus, LS remission might be determined more by early and successful pharmacological interventions.

中文翻译：

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小儿外阴硬化性苔藓：病程调查

学习目标

评估女性儿童人群中硬化性苔藓 (LS) 的长期结果，特别是与患者年龄、治疗类型和持续时间以及缓解相关的结果。

设计、设置、参与者、干预和主要结果措施

Retrospective chart review was conducted to identify female pediatric patients (0-18 years of age) who were diagnosed with LS between January 1, 2015 and January 1, 2020 at the University of North Carolina Dermatology and/or Obstetrics and Gynecology Departments. Patients were contacted via telephone for follow-up interviews consisting of a series of questions regarding patient age, symptom onset, time of diagnosis, treatment, and current symptoms.

Results

Of the 128 patients identified, 61 patients consented and participated in follow-up interviews. At the time of study follow-up, 55/61 (90%) of participants reported their symptoms were improved. Patients reported using a variety of treatments, with medium- to high-potency topical steroids being the most common. At the time of follow-up, 53/61 (87%) of patients reported being asymptomatic, 37/53 (70%) of whom were not using any form of maintenance therapy. Those who achieved symptom resolution did so at an average of 8.4 years of age. There was no significant difference in age in asymptomatic patients receiving maintenance therapy and those receiving no maintenance therapy. There was a positive correlation for the duration of LS treatment and time in remission (P< .001）。随访时患者年龄的增加也与缓解时间呈正相关（P < .001）。

结论

在我们的队列中，是否需要继续维持治疗与年龄或青春期状态无关。因此，LS 缓解可能更多地由早期和成功的药物干预决定。