OPEN STUDY OF TOPICAL 0.025-PERCENT TRETINOIN IN THE TREATMENT OF VULVAR LICHEN-SCLEROSUS - ONE-YEAR OF THERAPY

OBJECTIVE: To study the use of topical tretinoin for treating vulvar l ichen sclerosus. STUDY DESIGN: An open, uncontrolled clinical study on 22 patients affected by histologically confirmed vulvar lichen sclero sus. Topical 0.025% tretinoin was applied once a day, five days a week , for one year. Clinical and histologic parameters were evaluated befo re and after therapy, and statistical analysis was performed. RESULTS: Symptoms, guess appearance and histopathologic features improved in a highly significant manner (P < .001). Cutaneous side effects were obs erved but rapidly disappeared, and no patient left the study for this reason. Maintenance of results was observed at the 4-13-month follow-u p visits. CONCLUSION: Topical tretinoin seems feasible for use in the topical treatment of vulvar lichen sclerosus.