Male Matrix Matter: Autoantibodies Identified in Genital Lichen Sclerosus

But they may be secondary phenomena rather than causative.

Lichen sclerosus (aka lichen sclerosus et atrophicus, or LS&A) can occur on the glans penis as an atrophic, fibrotic, inflammatory patch. Here, it causes pain, associated sexual dysfunction, and sometimes squamous cell carcinomas. An earlier study found circulating IgG autoantibodies to extracellular matrix protein 1 (ECMP1) in the sera of about 75% of female patients with genital LS&A (Lancet 2003; 12:362:118). Male patients were not studied.

Now, investigators used an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) array to test sera from 80 men with genital LS&A for autoantibodies to ECMP1 and compared the results with results in 73 healthy controls. The mean ELISA value in the patient group was 0.329 arbitrary units (SD±0.261) versus 0.106 uni…

Reviewing Author

Mark V. Dahl, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory board Ulthera, Inc.; AuBio LifeSciences, LLC; Paris Therapeutics

Equity Elorac, Inc.; Makucell, Inc.; Paris Therapeutics

Editorial boards UpToDate

Leadership positions in professional societiesNational Rosacea Society (Chairman, Medical Board)

Mark V. Dahl, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory board Ulthera, Inc.; AuBio LifeSciences, LLC; Paris Therapeutics

Equity Elorac, Inc.; Makucell, Inc.; Paris Therapeutics

Editorial boards UpToDate

Leadership positions in professional societiesNational Rosacea Society (Chairman, Medical Board)