A study of 124 Indian patients with lichen planus pigmentosus

Clin Exp Dermatol. 2003 Sep;28(5):481-5. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2230.2003.01367.x.

Abstract

Lichen planus pigmentosus is a fairly common disorder of pigmentation in Indians, but reports comprising a sizeable number of patients are lacking in the literature. We now describe the clinical and epidemiological features and histopathological findings for 124 lichen planus pigmentosus patients. A retrospective analysis of medical records of patients attending our centre during the past 12 years was undertaken. Of the 124 patients (56 male, 68 female), the majority (48.4%) had the disease for 6 months to 3 years. The face and neck were the commonest sites affected with pigmentation varying from slate grey to brownish-black. The pattern of pigmentation was mostly diffuse (77.4%), followed by reticular (9.7%), blotchy (7.3%) and perifollicular (5.6%). Lichen planus was noted in 19 patients with typical histopathological changes of the disorder. Lichen planus pigmentosus, a distinct clinical entity commonly encountered in the Indian population, should be considered in the spectrum of lichenoid disorders as a variant of lichen planus.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Distribution
  • Age of Onset
  • Biopsy / methods
  • Female
  • Humans
  • India / ethnology
  • Lichen Planus / ethnology*
  • Lichen Planus / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pigmentation Disorders / ethnology*
  • Pigmentation Disorders / pathology
  • Retrospective Studies