Retrospective evaluation of the patients with lichen planus followed in our clinic for the last ten years

Aim: Lichen planus is a papulosquamous disease that affects skin and mucous membranes. The aim of this study was to investigate clinical and demographic characteristics of Lichen planus.Methods: We reviewed the records of 191 patients with lichen planus who were followed up in Düzce Medical Faculty Dermatology Department between January 2000 and May 2010 retrospectively.Results: Lichen planus patients comprised 0.68 percent of all patients who attended the clinic during the study period. Their ages ranged from 9 to 80 years and the mean age was 44,6±1,2 with the median age of 45. Frequency of Lichen planus in man and woman patients was found nearly equal (95/96). In spring and winter seasons more patients attended our clinic for Lichen planus.Conclusion: In our study, some different results such as no sex predilection in lichen planus patients, increase in frequency of lichen planus in spring and winter seasons, lower rates of oral and genital involvements with respect to other studies were obtained. This study revealed that lichen planus was seen in spring and winter seasons more frequently in our region. The present study clearly showed the need of a prospective controlled trial design in our region. It is clear that similar studies from every region in our country are needed to understand the effects of seasonal factors on different parameters of disease.Keywords: Demographic characteristics, genital lichen planus, Lichen planus, oral lichen planus, seasonal factors.