[Lichen planus and vaccination against hepatitis B]
- PMID: 8687059
[Lichen planus and vaccination against hepatitis B]
Abstract
Introduction: The association of lichen planus with liver diseases is now well established. Lichen planus following hepatitis B vaccination are much more unusual. We report here the fifth case of this kind.
Case report: A 16 years old girl developed a purely cutaneous lichen planus one week after the first injection of hepatitis B vaccine Gen Hevac B (Institut Pasteur), which appeared again 3 days after the second injection. The histologic features shown lichenoid pattern with intense keratinocytes necrosis more in favor of lichenoid drug eruption than lichen planus.
Discussion: According to our knowledge, only four similar cases have been previously reported. Comparison between the different vaccines used shows that only the HBs antigen and its epitope S could be involved in the lichen planus eruption. Our case is specific due to the early appearance of the eruption after the first injection and by its histologic features.
Conclusion: New cases of lichen planus following hepatitis B vaccination should help to explain the causal relationship between lichen planus eruption and hepatitis B vaccination.