Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39953774›Full record

ArticleThe Australasian journal of dermatology2025

A Guide to Screening for Autoimmune Diseases in Patients With Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus.

Annabel Guttentag, Marlene Wijaya, Gayle O Fischer, Angela Lee, Ken Liu, Rebecca Bronwyn Saunderson

Abstract read
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Article in The Australasian journal of dermatology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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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

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Annabel GuttentagUniversity of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0006-9489-3613
Marlene WijayaDepartment of Dermatology, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3137-5847
Gayle O FischerUniversity of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6382-2576
Angela LeeUniversity of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9107-4878
Ken LiuUniversity of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0453-3168
Rebecca Bronwyn SaundersonUniversity of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe aetiology of vulvar lichen sclerosus (VLS) remains unknown. However, there is evidence that in addition to a genetic predisposition, autoimmunity contributes to the pathogenesis.

objectivesThe objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of autoimmune disease and positive autoantibody serology in patients with VLS.

methodsA VLS database in Sydney, Australia, was retrospectively reviewed. A diagnosis of VLS was required for inclusion in the study. Data collected included demographics, comorbidities including any personal history of autoimmune disease, family history of autoimmune disease, and the results from autoantibody testing. A total of 2243 females with VLS were included in this study.

resultsAutoimmune disease was found in 24.5% and 34.6% of children and adults with VLS, respectively. The most prevalent autoimmune conditions were psoriasis, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, lichen planus, and vitiligo. Antinuclear antibodies were common and found in 31.0% of patients. Thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin antibodies were present in 16.1% and 18.9% of cases, respectively. Thyroid function, determined by thyroid stimulating hormone, was abnormal in 8.2% of patients. 5.3% of patients had positive parietal cell antibodies, and 5.9% had low vitamin B12 levels.

conclusionsThis work provides support that VLS is of an autoimmune aetiology, and that there is an association between VLS and autoimmune diseases. The high proportion of patients with an abnormal thyroid test, positive thyroid antibodies, and intrinsic factor and gastric parietal cell antibodies with low vitamin B12 levels, warrants screening for thyroid disease and pernicious anaemia in patients with VLS. Initial autoimmune screening in VLS can be rationalised to TSH, vitamin B12 levels, intrinsic factor and parietal cell antibodies. Thyroid antibodiy testing shouls be performed in hypothyroid patients.

Indexed as

Autoimmune DiseasesMass ScreeningVulvar Lichen SclerosusAdolescentAdultAgedAged, 80 and overAntibodies, AntinuclearAustraliaAutoantibodiesChildChild, PreschoolDatabases, FactualFemaleHumansInfantAntibodies, AntinuclearAutoantibodiesautoantibodiesautoimmune diseasesdermatologyserologythyroid function testsvitamin B12vulvar lichen sclerosus

Identifiers

PMID39953774
PMCPMC12062724

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