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What differentiates symptomatic from asymptomatic women with lichen sclerosus?
Pedro Vieira-Baptista1, Joana Lima-Silva, João Cavaco-Gomes
1Serviço de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia, Clínica da Mulher, Hospital de São João, Porto, Portugal.
Aims:
To investigate the differences between symptomatic and asymptomatic women with vulvar lichen sclerosus (LS).
Methods:
Data on file concerning 228 LS patients was retrospectively reviewed.
Results:
Most patients were symptomatic (193/228; 85%). Worsening of symptoms related to specific food intake was experienced by 26% (48/182) and pork was the most frequently cited (25/48; 52%); worsening at night was reported by 47% (87/185). Being over 50 years at the time of diagnosis or being menopausal were associated with being symptomatic (RR = 2.47, 95% CI: 1.15-5.29 and 6.55, 2.05-20.91, respectively). The same was true for urinary incontinence (UI) (5.23, 1.78-15.42), the use of absorbents (without UI) (3.59, 1.05-12.34) and dyspareunia (5.28, 1.64-17.0). All patients with a family history of LS were symptomatic. There was no association with hormonal factors or specific vulvar anatomical changes.
Conclusions:
Pork consumption may be involved in the worsening of symptoms. UI and the use of absorbents are more commonly present in symptomatic LS patients. Dietary changes and correction of UI might be useful in the control of LS symptoms. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel.
