BACKGROUND: Reduction of lichen sclerosus has been seen with topical testosterone, and spontaneous resolution has been attributed to increasing androgen levels. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to investigate the role of androgens in lichen sclerosus by studying lesional skin and site-specific normal skin for the presence of androgen receptors. METHODS: Immunoperoxidase staining for androgen receptors was performed on lesional tissue from 31 patients and microscopically compared with site-specific normal skin. RESULTS: Androgen receptors were present in normal genital and extragenital skin. Lesional genital and extragenital areas showed decreased staining compared with site-specific controls. Finally staining was decreased in histologically well-developed lesions compared with early lesions. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence for the loss of androgen receptors with disease progression in both genital and extragenital skin affected by lichen sclerosus. These findings support a hormonal pathogenesis of lichen sclerosus and may be significant in the treatment of the disease.
BACKGROUND: Reduction of lichen sclerosus has been seen with topical testosterone, and spontaneous resolution has been attributed to increasing androgen levels. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to investigate the role of androgens in lichen sclerosus by studying lesional skin and site-specific normal skin for the presence of androgen receptors. METHODS: Immunoperoxidase staining for androgen receptors was performed on lesional tissue from 31 patients and microscopically compared with site-specific normal skin. RESULTS: Androgen receptors were present in normal genital and extragenital skin. Lesional genital and extragenital areas showed decreased staining compared with site-specific controls. Finally staining was decreased in histologically well-developed lesions compared with early lesions. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence for the loss of androgen receptors with disease progression in both genital and extragenital skin affected by lichen sclerosus. These findings support a hormonal pathogenesis of lichen sclerosus and may be significant in the treatment of the disease.
Authors: Dominika Orszulak; Agnieszka Dulska; Kacper Niziński; Kaja Skowronek; Jakub Bodziony; Rafał Stojko; Agnieszka Drosdzol-Cop Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-07-04 Impact factor: 3.390