High prevalence of thyroid disease in patients with lichen sclerosus

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the association between lichen sclerosus and thyroid disease in our patient population.

Study design: This was a retrospective chart review of patients seen between January 1995 and September 2005 with biopsy-proven lichen sclerosus. Charts were reviewed to assess the patients' history of thyroid disease.

Results: We identified 211 patients with biopsy-proven lichen sclerosus, 63 (29.9%) of whom had thyroid disease. In women <55 years old, 25 of 74 (33.8%) had thyroid disease; in women > or = 55 years old, 38 of 137 (27.7%) had thyroid disease.

Conclusion: The prevalence of thyroid disease in our patients with biopsy-proven lichen sclerosus is almost 30% and is not dependent upon age. This prevalence is 5- to 30-fold greater than in the general population.