Topical testosterone versus clobetasol for vulvar lichen sclerosus.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To compare the effects of topical testosterone and clobetasol treatments on symptoms remission and recurrence rates in patients with vulvar lichen sclerosus (LS).

METHODS:

A retrospective review of the records showed that, of 140 patients with biopsy-proven vulvar LS, 80 were treated with applications of testosterone propionate 2% in petrolatum and 60 with clobetasol 17-propionate 0.05%.

RESULTS:

The response rates after 6 months were 77.5% for patients treated with testosterone and 91.7% for those treated with clobetasol (P=0.02). The recurrence rates were 20% and 6.7% in the 2 groups, respectively (P=0.02). Premenopausal patients had higher remission rates and lower recurrence rates than postmenopausal patients (P>0.05). Considering whole patients, low remission rates and high recurrence rates were observed in patients who had had a hysterectomy (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION:

Treatment of LS with a corticosteroid provided excellent remission rates. In this study, clobetasol 17-propionate 0.05% was superior to testosterone for both remission induction and maintenance therapy.

• Authors: A Ayhan, S Guven, E S Guvendag Guven, M Sakinci, M Gultekin, T Kucukali
• Journal: International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (Int J Gynaecol Obstet) Vol. 96 Issue 2 Pg. 117-21 (Feb 2007) ISSN: 0020-7292 [Print] United States
• PMID: 17239881 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Androgens
• Glucocorticoids
• Clobetasol
• Testosterone Propionate

Topics

• Administration, Topical
• Adult
• Androgens (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Clobetasol (therapeutic use)
• Female
• Glucocorticoids (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Middle Aged
• Recurrence
• Retrospective Studies
• Testosterone Propionate (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus (drug therapy)