Background: Guidelines identify a 3-month topical application of an ultra-potent corticosteroid ointment as the mainstay of medical treatment for vulvar lichen sclerosus (VLS). However, there are no trials providing evidence that any specific corticosteroid is superior to another.
Objective: To assess the effectiveness and safety of a 12-week application of mometasone furoate (MMF) 0.1% ointment, with a tapering regimen, in achieving control of VLS signs and symptoms and to detect potential risk factors for VLS non-response.
Methods: 147 patients affected with VLS were enrolled in a 12-week active treatment phase (ATP) with topical 0.1% MMF. The primary efficacy endpoint was the rate of patients achieving clinical response, as defined by protocol parameters. The secondary efficacy endpoint was to assess the changes of mean VLS-related symptoms after the 12-week ATP compared with baseline.
Results: By the end of the ATP, 113 patients (80.7%) experienced a treatment response, whereas 27 women (19.3%) were judged as non-responders. Mean symptom scores decreased significantly in the study patients, regardless of their clinical response at the end of the ATP. Among all the epidemiological and clinical data considered, only the absence of previous medical therapies was found to be related to a significantly higher risk of non-response to treatment.
Conclusions: Application of 0.1% MMF ointment for 12 weeks on a tapering regimen was found to be an effective and safe therapy option in the ATP of VLS and could represent an alternative first-line treatment to an ultra-potent molecule.
© 2013 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.