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A specialized Vulva Clinic with dedicated gynecologists and dermatologists was established in Oslo, Norway, in 2003. Fifty-eight women referred to the clinic in 2003-2009 were diagnosed with genital erosive lichen planus. All patients filled out a questionnaire. Gynecological examination, including vaginal inspection, was performed, if necessary in general anesthesia. Median age at symptom start was 51 years (range 17-78 years) with 15 women (26%) being younger than 40 years old. Sexual abstinence was reported by 36 women and dyspareunia by another 10. On examination, vaginal involvement was seen in 49 women, including vaginal synechiae in 29 and total obliteration of the vagina in 9. Of 56 women treated with topical corticosteroids for at least three months, two had complete response and 36 partial responses. Similarly, of 22 women treated with tacrolimus, three had complete and six partial response. We conclude that vaginal involvement is more common in genital erosive lichen planus than previously reported.

Background: A nation-wide Norwegian Patch Test Registry (NOLAR) was established in 2005 as a collaboration between six dermatology departments. International, multi-centre studies have documented great variability in the frequency of positive patch test reactions, considered as mainly due to heterogeneity of test populations., Objectives: To analyse the variability of positive test reactions by studying patch tests performed at the six collaborating departments, using standardized procedures., Materials and Methods: Data from all patch tests (n = 2089) performed in 2007-2008 as registered in the NOLAR program. Differences between centres were analysed using Exact Pearson chi(2) test., Results: Between the centres, positive test reactions (+, ++, or +++) varied significantly for 8 of the 26 allergens in the European Baseline Series. When considering strong reactions (++ or +++) only, the differences were statistically significant for six of these allergens, i.e. cobalt chloride, potassium dichromate, p-phenylenediamine, formaldehyde, paraben mix, and mercaptobenzothiazole., Conclusion: The results indicate regional differences in the prevalence of sensitization to certain allergens within the Norwegian population, although inter-observer differences cannot be ruled out as a factor.