Prevalence of atopy in male genital lichen sclerosus
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An investigation into the prevalence of type 1 immune hypersensitivity (atopy)in men presenting to a surgical urology unit with lichen sclerosus of the foreskin and glans penis (balanitis xerotica obliterans).
IRAS ID
62910
Contact name
Paul Griffiths
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Male genital lichen sclerosus (LS),is a chronic and potentially debilitating condition of the skin of foreskin and glans penis. Although first described in men in 1928, its pathogenesis is still unknown. It is 6-10 times more common in women.In men it produces chronic itching and soreness, difficulty in retracting the foreskin, scarring of the foreskin with obstruction of urine outflow(phimosis) and discomfort on urinating. It may also be a precursor of squamous cell cancer of the penis. In women,research has established an association with autoimmune diseases (type 4 immune hypersensitivity), and a possible association with type 1 immune hypersensitivity in girls. Autoimmune disease is more common in women than men.
Currently, treatment of symptomatic genital LS is circumcision which is traumatic, painful, disfiguring, may cause embarrassment,loss of penile sensitivity, sexual dysfunction, psychological problems,recurrence in the scar following surgery and squamous cell carcinoma. We wish to establish whether male genital LS is linked to atopy.
Based on reports of an increased incidence of asthma amongst boys and pre-menarche girls with genital LS, and on some of the features of the disease seen on microscopic examination of sections of foreskin tissue, we hypothesise that in men and pre-menarchal girls there may be a role for type 1 immune hypersensitivity. We therefore wish to survey a cohort of male patients with genital LS, and compare these with a cohort of age-matched controls presenting to the urology unit for unrelated disease,to establish the prevalence of type 1 immune hypersensitivity diseases such as asthma, eczema, urticarial, allergies to foods, medications and other chemicals. Such an association, if proven, will open the way for further investigations to confirm the involvement of type 1 immune reactions in the disease which may assist in determining its aetiology and perhaps to developing alternative treatment strategies.REC name
West Midlands - Edgbaston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/WM/0065
Date of REC Opinion
10 Apr 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion