A Case of Lichen Planus Pemphigoides Successfully Treated with a Combination of Cyclosporine A and Prednisolone

Abstract

Lichen planus pemphigoides (LPP) is a rare clinical variant of bullous pemphigoid (BP). A 35-year-old female patient presented to our hospital complaining of pruritic violaceous-colored plaques or papules on the extremities. Tense vesicles were also seen on the soles. Skin biopsies from the papules and vesicles demonstrated lichen planus and BP, respectively. Direct immunofluorescence demonstrated linear IgG and C3 deposition on the basement membrane zone. Indirect immunofluorescence on 1 M NaCl split skin detected IgG reactivity with the epidermal side. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay also detected anti-BP180 antibodies. After treatment with oral prednisolone alone had failed, low-dose cyclosporine A (CyA) was added. The clinical symptoms immediately improved and the titer of the anti-BP180 antibodies decreased. Although there is little information about the treatment of recalcitrant LPP, additional CyA appeared to be beneficial.