Unexpectedly high frequency of genital involvement in women with clinical and histological features of oral lichen planus

Abstract

The main aims of this cross-sectional study were: (i) to assess the frequency of genital (vulval) lichen planus (VLP) and vulval lichen sclerosus (VLS) in women affected with oral lichen planus (OLP), regardless of the genital symptoms reported; and (ii) to verify whether any demographic, clinical, or histological features of OLP are associated with a higher risk of vulvo-vaginal involvement. Fifty-five women, presenting OLP, consecutively underwent gynaecological examination and, if they demonstrated positive clinical signs of VLP, underwent biopsy. After a drop-out of 14 subjects, 31/41 (75.6%) were found to have signs of genital involvement, of which 13/31 (44.0%) were asymptomatic. Following genital biopsy, 27/31 (87.1%) had histologically confirmed VLP or VLS. Following both univariate and multivariate statistical analyses, no significant association was found between gynaecological concomitance and demographic, clinical, histological features of OLP. This unpredictably common genital involvement in females with OLP emphasizes the importance of routinely performing both oral and gynaecological examinations, to facilitate an early and correct therapeutic approach.