Coexistence of Morphea and Lichen Sclerosus Et Atrophicus in Pediatric Age

There are few pediatric reports on the coexistence of genital lichen sclerosus (LS) and morphea. We found a higher prevalence of genital LS (15.4% corresponding to 8 girls) among 52 children presenting morphea compared to the healthy pediatric population. Therefore the inspection of anogenital region should be performed also in all girls with morphea, regardless of symptoms. We believe LS and morphea to be distinct diseases, but in 2 of our cases the detection of clinical and histological features of extragenital LS on morphea lesions may be due to a more superficial mechanism of atrophy and sclerosis.

Keywords: Morphea; Lichen sclerosus et atrophicus; Pediatric

Abbreviations: Lichen sclerosus et atrophicus; CS: Circumscribed superficial type; L: linear; ECDS: en coup de sabre; yrs: years; ANA: antinuclear antibodies; MTX: methotrexate; GVHD graft-versus-host-disease; ENA: extractable nuclear antigen; Ab: antibodies; AD: atopic dermatitis; Ig: immunoglobulins.