Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36873861›Full record

ReviewFrontiers in medicine2023

Lichen sclerosus: The 2023 update.

David A De Luca, Cristian Papara, Artem Vorobyev, Hernán Staiger, Katja Bieber, Diamant Thaçi, Ralf J Ludwig

Open access · goldAbstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Frontiers in medicine, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 108 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
108citing papers in PubMed, 6 pooled it
50.2field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

108 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 158 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Pooled it
  5. Regenerative Approaches in Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus: A Systematic Review.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025
    Pooled it
  6. Pooled it
  7. Trial
  8. Trial
  9. Article
  10. Observational
  11. Genital Lichen Sclerosus: From Hidden Mechanisms to Healing Horizons.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026
    Review
  12. Review
  13. Article
  14. Article
  15. Review
  16. Article
  17. Article
  18. Article
  19. Article
  20. Review

48 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

David A De LucaLübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
Cristian PaparaLübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
Artem VorobyevLübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
Hernán StaigerDepartment of Dermatology, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Katja BieberLübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
Diamant ThaçiInstitute and Comprehensive Center Inflammation Medicine, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
Ralf J LudwigLübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
University of Lübeck · DEUniversity Hospital Schleswig-Holstein · DEHospital Italiano de Buenos Aires · AR

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Lichen sclerosus (LS) is an underdiagnosed inflammatory mucocutaneous condition affecting the anogenital areas. Postmenopausal women are predominantly affected and, to a lesser extent, men, prepubertal children, and adolescents. The etiology of LS is still unknown. Hormonal status, frequent trauma and autoimmune diseases are well-known associations for LS, yet infections do not seem to be clear risk factors. LS pathogenesis involves factors such as a genetic predisposition and an immune-mediated Th1-specific IFNγ-induced phenotype. Furthermore, there is a distinct expression of tissue remodeling associated genes as well as microRNAs. Oxidative stress with lipid and DNA peroxidation provides an enabling microenvironment to autoimmunity and carcinogenesis. Circulating IgG autoantibodies against the extracellular matrix protein 1 and hemidesmosome may contribute to the progression of LS or simply represent an epiphenomenon. The typical clinical picture includes chronic whitish atrophic patches along with itching and soreness in the vulvar, perianal and penile regions. In addition to genital scarring, and sexual and urinary dysfunction, LS may also lead to squamous cell carcinoma. Disseminated extragenital LS and oral LS are also reported. The diagnosis is usually clinical; however, a skin biopsy should be performed in case of an unclear clinical picture, treatment failure or suspicion of a neoplasm. The gold-standard therapy is the long-term application of ultrapotent or potent topical corticosteroids and, alternatively, topical calcineurin inhibitors such as pimecrolimus or tacrolimus. Collectively, LS is a common dermatological disease with a so far incompletely understood pathogenesis and only limited treatment options. To foster translational research in LS, we provide here an update on its clinical features, pathogenesis, diagnosis and (emerging) treatment options.

Indexed as

autoimmunitybalanitis xerotica obliteranskraurosis vulvaelichen sclerosuswhite spot disease

Identifiers

PMID36873861
PMCPMC9978401
OpenAlexW4321109459

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.