Objective: To determine the clinical feature of lichen planus in Hunan, and to provide references for correct diagnosis and treatment.
Methods: The clinical data from 124 outpatients with lichen planus attending Dermatology Department of Xiangya Hospital, Central South University from January 2000 to April 2008 were analysed retrospectively, including data on sex, age of visit or onset, course of disease, clinical manifestation, histopathology, and so on.
Results: In these 124 patients, male to female ratio was 1:1. Most patients were in 30-60 age group when they first visited the Out-patient Department. There were 2 onset peaks, one in 14-29 age group and the other in 40-60 age group. Most (35.5%) of the lesions were chronic localized subtypes. The limbs were the most common site to be involved, and they were also the most prevalent site for onset of lichen planus(74 cases, 59.7% ). The second common site was the trunk (29 cases, 23.4%). Fifteen patients (12.1%) had genitalia lesions, and 9 (7.3%) accompanied with oral mucosal involvement. Most of the eruptions were half-distributed (44.3%), 64 patients (51.6%) had pruritus,which ranged from mild irritation to severe intolerable itching, 56 (45.2%) had no subjective symptoms, 4 (3.2%) had spontaneous pain or tenderness, and 2 had positive family history of lichen planus. The diagnostic accordance rate was 50.8%.
Conclusion: Some characteristics exist in sex, age, and clinical manifestation of lichen planus in Hunan province. Systemic and/or local treatment should be taken according to the lesion morphology, localization and subtypes of lichen planus.