Immunology of male genital lichen sclerosus

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    An Immunohistochemical study of male genital Lichen Sclerosus (balanitis xerotica obliterans or BXO) of the penis

  • IRAS ID

    279732

  • Contact name

    Paul Griffiths

  • Contact email

    Paul.Griffiths2@wales.nhs.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Swansea University

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    1 years, 0 months, 1 days

  • Research summary

    In women research has established an association between female genital Lichen sclerosus(LS) and autoimmune diseases (type 4 immune hypersensitivity). In men, however, Type 4 autoimmune disease is much less common than in women raising the possibility that a mechanism other than Type 4 may play a role in the male disease. Type1 diseases include asthma, eczema, urticaria, hayfever, allergic rhinitis and polyps, anaphylaxis, eosinophilic oesophagitis and allergies to foods, medications and other chemicals. Type 4 diseases include disorders such as autoimmune thyroid disease, pernicious anaemia, lichen planus and rheumatoid arthritis.
    In genital LS in men, chronic itching is accompanied by an infiltration of skin by chronic inflammatory cells, including eosinophils and mast cells, thickening of the basement membrane which supports the epidermis, and ultimately, ulceration, fissuring and scarring.
    We therefore wish to study lymphocyte subsets in a cohort of male patients with male genital LS to compare with a cohort of males with non-specific chronic inflammation, normal foreskin and a cohort of adult women with genital lichen sclerosus, to investigate whether the inflammatory cells are those associated with Type 1 or Type 4 disease. Specimens of normal foreskin and non-specific chronic inflammation will also be included.

  • REC name

    South Central - Hampshire A Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    20/SC/0097

  • Date of REC Opinion

    12 May 2020

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion