Management of lichen sclerosus with triamcinolone ointment: effectiveness in reduction of patient symptom scores.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether topical triamcinolone ointment effectively reduces patient's symptoms for the management of lichen sclerosus (LS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review of LS patients seen during 2004 to 2008 in the Saint Louis University Vulvar Clinic was conducted. Inclusion criteria were biopsy-confirmed LS and age 18 years and older. Data were collected at the initial visit and at 6 to 10 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months of follow-up. Effectiveness was assessed using symptom scores on a Likert scale. Data were analyzed using either paired t tests or nonparametric Wilcoxon signed rank tests using a p value less than.05 to denote statistical significance. RESULTS: Of 41 women, 34 met inclusion criteria. Vulvar pruritus was the most frequently reported vulvar symptom, occurring in 32 (94.1%) of 34 women. Dyspareunia, vulvar burning, and vulvar pain were reported in 17 (54.8%) of 31, 22 (64.7%) of 34, and in 13 (38.2%) of 34 women, respectively. Statistically significant reductions in mean symptom scores between the initial and the 6- to 10-week follow-up visits were found for dyspareunia, vulvar burning, vulvar pruritus, and pain (p values < .05 to < .001) and at 3-month follow-up visits for dyspareunia, vulvar burning, and vulvar pruritus (p < .05). Complete symptom relief was reported for 8 (47.1%) of 17 women with dyspareunia, 19 (86.4%) of 22 women with vulvar burning, 23 (71.9%) of 32 women with vulvar pruritus, and 12 (92.3%) of 13 women with vulvar pain. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Topical triamcinolone ointment is an effective treatment for the management of LS based on the significant reduction of patient symptom scores. Inherent risks with long-term use of high-potency corticosteroids should prompt all practitioners to consider triamcinolone ointment as a safer long-term treatment for patients with LS.