Lichen planopilaris (LPP) is a lymphocytic cicatricial alopecia characterized by follicular hyperkeratosis, perifollicular erythema, and loss of follicular orifices.1 The pathogenic mechanism is uncertain but thought to be due to an autoimmune, cell-mediated cytotoxic immune reaction against follicular antigens.2 The pathogenesis is similar to that of lichen planus, with some considering LPP a follicular variant of lichen planus.1 Chronic inflammatory skin diseases, including lichen planus, have been associated with dyslipidemia and metabolic syndrome.3,4 This association is likely due to a combination of increased immunologic activity of type 1 helper T cells and the cytokines tumor necrosis factor and interleukin 6.5 However, to our knowledge, there have been no studies evaluating the association between LPP, hyperlipidemia, and metabolic syndrome.
Patients with LPP seen at the Cleveland Clinic during the period from January 1, 2003, to June 12, 2011, were identified using the Cleveland Clinic alopecia registry (n = 187). For inclusion into the LPP registry, patients must have received a scalp biopsy with results showing histopathologic characteristics of LPP. The characteristics of these patients were compared with the characteristics of patients with seborrheic dermatitis (n = 56). The electronic health record was reviewed for demographic (age, sex, and body mass index [calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared]), clinical (type 1 diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia), and laboratory characteristics. Hypercholesterolemia was defined as a serum low-density lipoprotein level of higher than 130 mg/dL (to convert to millimoles per liter, multiply by 0.0259) or a serum total cholesterol level of higher than 200 mg/dL (to convert to millimoles per liter, multiply by 0.0259), or was based on the use of lipid-lowering medications. Hypertriglyceridemia was defined as a serum triglyceride level of higher than 150 mg/dL (to convert to millimoles per liter, multiply by 0.0113). Statistical analysis was performed from July 8 to 29, 2011. Continuous variables were analyzed with the Mann-Whitney test. Differences between categorical variables were assessed using the χ2 and Fisher exact tests when appropriate. Statistical significance was set as P < .05. This study was approved by the Cleveland Clinic Institutional Review Board. Patient consent was waived by the Cleveland Clinic Institutional Review Board, as the data were collected retrospectively.
The study included 243 participants: 187 patients with LPP and 56 controls (Table). No differences were observed between the patients with LPP and the controls in mean (SD) age (57 [12] vs 54 [15] years; P = .09), sex (16 men and 171 women vs 6 men and 50 women; P = .60), and mean (SD) body mass index (29.0 [7.3] vs 28.0 [7.6]; P = .24), mean (SD) serum glucose levels (102 [31] vs 102 [24] mg/dL [to convert to millimoles per liter, multiply by 0.0555]; P = .19), and mean (SD) serum glycosylated hemoglobin (5.9% [0.6%] vs 5.9% [0.7%] [to convert to proportion of total hemoglobin, multiply by 0.01]; P = .86). The presence of hypertension was noted in 46 patients with LPP (24.6%) and 20 controls (35.7%) (P = .18).
Lipid-lowering drugs were used for 35 patients with LPP (18.7%) and 15 controls (26.8%) (P = .19). No differences were observed between the patients with LPP and the controls in mean (SD) total cholesterol levels (192 [40] vs 189 [37] mg/dL; P = .84), mean (SD) high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (66 [20] vs 64 [18] mg/dL [to convert to millimoles per liter, multiply by 0.0259]; P = .70), mean (SD) low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (113 [36] vs 105 [27] mg/dL; P = .28), and mean (SD) triglyceride levels (100 [62] vs 102 [55] mg/dL; P = .89).
Despite the connection between hyperlipidemia and lichen planus, no differences were found in this group of patients with LPP. Confounding factors such as age, body mass index, and hypertension were homogeneous in both groups. This study has several limitations. The different ranges of LPP duration in this study may have influenced the lipid profiles and could potentially bias the estimates toward a smaller difference between patients with LPP and healthy controls. In addition, this study was conducted at a tertiary care center renowned for its cardiology department, and the composition of patients may be different compared with the general population. Our study cannot definitively exclude the possibility of a correlation between dyslipidemia and LPP. Prospective studies with larger numbers of patients are required to further investigate the potential correlation between dyslipidemia and LPP.
Accepted for Publication: April 26, 2018.
Corresponding Author: Rosalynn R. Z. Conic, MD, Department of Dermatology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Ave, Ste A61, Cleveland, OH 44195 (ruzica.conic@gmail.com).
Published Online: July 11, 2018. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2018.1749
Author Contributions: Drs Atanaskova-Mesinkovska and Bergfeld had full access to all the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.
Concept and design: Piliang, Bergfeld, Atanaskova-Mesinkovska.
Acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data: Conic, Bergfeld.
Drafting of the manuscript: Conic, Bergfeld.
Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: All authors.
Administrative, technical, or material support: Conic, Piliang, Bergfeld.
Supervision: Piliang, Bergfeld, Atanaskova-Mesinkovska.
Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None reported.
Funding/Support: Dr Conic is funded by training grant 5 T32 AR 7569-23 from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health; research reported in this publication was supported by this grant.
Role of the Funder/Sponsor: The funding source had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication.
Disclaimer: The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
Additional Contributions: Aline Amoretti, MD, Alejandra Tellez, MD, and Angela Kyei, MD, Cleveland Clinic, assisted with generating data. They were not compensated for their contributions.
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