Lichen planus, retrospective study in a pediatric hospital

Abstract

Introduction: lichen planus (LP) is a chronic, inflammatory disease of unknown etiology, which can affect skin, adnexal tissues and mucosa.

Objective: to describe the clinical, epidemiological characteristics and the treatment received by patients with clinical and histopathological diagnosis of LP, seen at the Dermatology Service of Pediatric Hospital Prof. Dr. Juan P. Garrahan in the last 33 years.

Design: descriptive, retrospective and cross-sectional study.

Materials y methods: we reviewed the clinical history of patients with histopathological diagnosis of LP that were treated at our hospital from August 1987 to February 2020 and analysed the epidemiological, clinical and treatment variables.

Results: data of 26 patients were included in this study 18 of which are males (69.3%). The mean age of diagnosis was 9.6 years. 24 patients (92%) presented the classical type of LP. Ungual and mucosal compromise were observed in 2 patients (7.7%) and none had associations with infections or drugs. Regarding treatment, 4 patients (15.4%) did not continue follow-ups, 13 patients (50%) had topical treatment, 6 (23%) had systemic treatment and 3 patients (11.5%) received combined treatment. The average follow-up time was 6 months and 68% of patients had favorable outcome.

Conclusions: LP is an uncommon pathology in children. During this study we did not find any etiologic relations with use of drugs or infectious diseases as is described in de adult population. Its course is chronic and in the patients that had a proper follow-up a good response to the indicated treatment was obtained.