Successful Treatment of Lichen Planus with Adalimumab

Abstract

© 2012 The Authors. doi: 10.2340/00015555-1249 Journal Compilation © 2012 Acta Dermato-Venereologica. ISSN 0001-5555 Lichen planus (LP) is a relatively common inflammatory dermatosis (with a prevalence of approximately 0.5%), characterized by violaceous, polygonal, flat pruritic papules. It can involve both skin and mucous membranes and usually occurs in middle-aged persons. Mild cases usually heal spontaneously, but patients with widespread lesions are sometimes hard to treat. Different treatment modalities are available. Topical anti-inflammatory treatment with steroid ointments or calcineurin inhibitors have limited efficacy. Phototherapy, systemic treatment with retinoids, and depot steroids have been administered with limited success, and systemic ciclosporin is usually effective. Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) has a key role in the pathogenesis of LP (1). Thalidomide, a potent anti-inflammatory drug, acting inter alia through TNF-α-mediated cellular responses, has been found effective in the treatment of LP (2). Only a few data on the efficacy of TNF-α inhibitors in LP are available in the literature (3, 4).