email article
The status of laser ablation for vulvar lichen sclerosus remained unclear following two small randomized clinical trials that produced conflicting results.
In one study, fractionated carbon dioxide (CO
2) laser treatment led to significantly greater improvement compared with a topical steroid, according to assessment by the Skindex-29 dermatology qualify-of-life index. However, the trial was powered to detect a difference of 16 points on the Skindex-29, and the data showed a difference of 10.9 points.
After adjustment for prior steroid use, the difference in Skindex-29 score remained statistically significant only for patients with prior steroid exposure, reported Linda Burkett, MD, of Magee-Womens Hospital of the University of Pittsburgh Health System, and colleagues in