Lichen Planus and Lichenoid Dermatoses: Clinical Overview and Molecular Basis
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
King’s Research Portal DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2018.02.010 Document Version Peer reviewed version Link to publication record in King's Research Portal Citation for published version (APA): Tziotzios, C., Lee, J. Y. W., Brier, T., Saito, R., Hsu, C-K., Bhargava, K., Stefanato, C., Fenton, D. A., & McGrath, J. A. (2018). Lichen planus and lichenoid dermatoses: clinical overview and molecular basis. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 789. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2018.02.010 Citing this paper Please note that where the full-text provided on King's Research Portal is the Author Accepted Manuscript or Post-Print version this may differ from the final Published version. If citing, it is advised that you check and use the publisher's definitive version for pagination, volume/issue, and date of publication details. And where the final published version is provided on the Research Portal, if citing you are again advised to check the publisher's website for any subsequent corrections. General rights Copyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the Research Portal are retained by the authors and/or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognize and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. •Users may download and print one copy of any publication from the Research Portal for the purpose of private study or research. •You may not further distribute the material or use it for any profit-making activity or commercial gain •You may freely distribute the URL identifying the publication in the Research Portal Take down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact [email protected] providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. Download date: 28. Sep. 2021 CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION Lichen planus and lichenoid dermatoses Clinical overview and molecular basis Christos Tziotzios, MA, MB BChir (Cantab), MRCP (UK),a John Y. W. Lee, BSc (Hons),a Timothy Brier, MBBS, MRCP (UK),a Ryo Saito, MD,a Chao-Kai Hsu, MD,a Kapil Bhargava, MBBS, MRCP (UK),a Catherine M. Stefanato, MD, FRCPath,b DavidA.Fenton,FRCP,MBE,a andJohnA.McGrath,MD,FRCP,FMedScia London, United Kingdom Learning objectives After completing this learning activity, participants should be able to recognize clinical features characterizing lichen planus and other lichenoid disorders in patients; classify lichenoid conditions into their respective categories and subtypes; distinguish between the various lichenoid dermatoses despite the significant overlap in clinical presentation; and describe underlying molecular mechanisms for lichenoid skin diseases. Disclosures Editors The editors involved with this CME activity and all content validation/peer reviewers of the journal-based CME activity have reported no relevant financial relationships with commercial interest(s). Authors The authors involved with this journal-based CME activity have reported no relevant financial relationships with commercial interest(s). Planners The planners involved with this journal-based CME activity have reported no relevant financial relationships with commercial interest(s). The editorial and education staff involved with this journal-based CME activity have reported no relevant financial relationships with commercial interest(s). Deriving from the Greek word lεixήn for ‘‘tree moss’’ and the Latin word planus for ‘‘planar,’’ lichen planus is a relatively uncommon and heterogeneous cutaneous disorder that typically develops in middle-aged adults. Despite the significant clinical burden associated with the disorder, little well-conducted molecular research has been undertaken, possibly because of heterogeneity impeding consistent and confident phenotyping. The multiple variants of lichenoid disease bear overlapping clinical and pathologic features despite manifesting as distinct clinical disorders. The first article in this 2-part continuing medical education series provides a comprehensive overview of the clinical and pathologic characteristics of cutaneous lichenoid dermatoses and links these manifestations to recent advances in our understanding of the underlying pathobiology of such diseases. ( J Am Acad Dermatol 2018;79:789-804.) Key words: lichen planus; lichenoid inflammation; lichenoid variants; molecular basis of lichenoid inflammation. CUTANEOUS LICHEN PLANUS d Consisting of polygonal, pruritic, planar Key points papules or plaques, lichen planus is a d Cutaneous lichen planus represents a heterogeneous papulosquamous eruption relatively uncommon dermatosis, affecting of variable morphologic manifestation but \1% of the population a consistent histologic phenotype From the St. John’s Institute of Dermatology,a King’s College London, 9th Floor Tower Wing, Guy’s Hospital, London SE1 London, Guy’s Hospital, and the Department of Dermatopa- 9RT, United Kingdom. E-mail: [email protected]. thology,b St. John’s Institute of Dermatology, St. Thomas’ 0190-9622/$36.00 Hospital, London. Ó 2018 by the American Academy of Dermatology, Inc. Dr Tziotzios and Mr Lee contributed equally to this article. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2018.02.010 Funding sources: None. Date of release: November 2018 Conflicts of interest: None disclosed. Expiration date: November 2021 Reprint requests: Christos Tziotzios, MA, MB BChir (Cantab), MRCP (UK), St. John’s Institute of Dermatology, King’s College 789 790 Tziotzios et al JAM ACAD DERMATOL NOVEMBER 2018 ‘‘wedge-shaped’’ hypergranulosis, with a character- Abbreviations used: istic ‘‘saw tooth’’ appearance of the rete ridges.13,14 At LP: lichen planus the dermoepidermal junction, small clefts (known as LPP: lichen planopilaris Max Joseph spaces) may be observed along with NLP: nail lichen planus 13,14 HCV: hepatitis C virus band-like lymphocytic infiltration. Apoptotic LDE: lichenoid drug eruption keratinocytes are also found in the papillary LPLK: lichen planuselike keratosis LS: lichen sclerosus dermis, as eosinophilic colloid bodies. As the BP: bullous pemphigoid dermoepidermal junction is disrupted, pigment LE: lupus erythematosus incontinence occurs, linked to the increased IL: interleukin 13,14 IFN: interferon presence of melanophages. Direct immunofluo- HLA: human leukocyte antigen rescence staining in the biopsy specimen is helpful, SNP: single nucleotide polymorphism because lesions of LP characteristically and consistently display a bright ‘‘shaggy’’ band of fibrinogen along the dermoepidermal junction, as d The etiology of lichen planus remains well as colloid bodies staining with any of the elusive, although immune dysregulation, in- autoantibodies immunoglobulin M (IgM), IgG, IgA, fectious, environmental, and genetic factors and C3 (Fig 1, C and D).13 may play a role in disease pathobiology Although experienced physicians are able to diagnose cutaneous LP clinically, a biopsy specimen Epidemiology, clinical features, and diagnostic of the skin is useful for confirmation of a clinical considerations diagnosis, and punch or shave biopsy specimens are With an estimated incidence of \1%,1 cutaneous normally adequate.15 We tend to resort to lichen planus (LP) is thought to make up 0.4% to histopathologic evaluation in rare cases of diagnostic 1.2% of all dermatology referrals and features.2-4 It is uncertainty, but we consistently explore possible an inflammatory dermatosis mainly affecting adults risk factors for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. A of any sex and ethnic origin, and only rarely has it systematic drug history to look for culprits is also been reported to involve children; the remainder of relevant in the clinical history, as are symptoms this series focuses on disease as manifested and suggestive of other regional lichenoid involvement. treated in adults.1,5,6 Such symptoms comprise oral or genital erosions or Cutaneous LP typically presents as a papulo- pain, dysphagia or odynophagia, alopecia, and squamous eruption with flat-topped, violaceous, trichodynia, and the physical examination should papular lesions of varying size, often described using comprehensively look for the corresponding and the ‘‘six P’s’’ (purple, pruritic, polygonal, planar, supportive clinical signs at the scalp, oral cavity, and papules, and plaques) and characterized by the genitalia, respectively. Dermoscopy can be used to classic Wickham striae (Fig 1, A).5,7 The distribution highlight Wickham striae,16 which complement the of the eruption is usually localized to the clinical history, in differentiating idiopathic LP from extremities,8 but may rarely be generalized4,9 or drug-induced disease (lichenoid drug reaction).17 adopt a Blaschkoid,10 intertriginous,5 or derma- The clinical history is also vital in diagnosing tomal11 configuration. The majority of cutaneous clinically reminiscent conditions, such as chronic LP cases will remit within 1 to 2 years,12 unlike graft-versus-host disease.18 subtypes involving mucosal and densely follicular sites, where lesions tend to persist for a longer duration. From our perspective, testament to this is MORPHOLOGIC VARIANTS OF the observation that our tertiary specialist clinics are CUTANEOUS LICHEN PLANUS occupied with challenging chronic cases of oral, Key points genital, and appendageal disease, whereas classic d Being morphologically heterogeneous, lichen cutaneous disease does not appear to be as planus may be hyperkeratotic, annular, burdensome, demands less regular clinical input, bullous, pigmented, or atrophic and is only seen in the general