An investigation into the incidence of auto-immune disorders in patients with lichen sclerosus and atrophicus.

Patients with lichen sclerosus and atrophicus have an increased incidence of organ specific antibodies, and these patients and their relatives have a significantly higher incidence of associated autoimmune diseases than a control population. The incidence of other auto-immune diseases in patients with lichen sclerosus is highest when the onset is between the ages of 41 and 60 years, but is not related to the duration or site of the lesions. These findings suggest an immunological basis for the disease and indicate that the patients should be investigated and followed up to detect the existence of other auto-immune disorders.