Association of lichen planopilaris with thyroid disease: a retrospective case-control study

Abstract

Background: Studies on the precise causes and comorbidities seen with lichen planopilaris (LPP) are limited.

Objective: We sought to determine the prevalence of thyroid diseases in patients with LPP.

Methods: Medical records of 166 patients with LPP and 81 age- and gender-matched control subjects seen in the Department of Dermatology at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Ohio between 2000 and 2013 were reviewed.

Results: A diagnosis of thyroid disease was present in 34% (n = 57) of the 166 patients with LPP, and in 11% (n = 9) of the control subjects (P = .0001). When confined to hypothyroidism only, this disease was found in 29% (n = 48) of the patients with LPP and 9% (n = 7) of the control subjects (P = .0003).

Limitations: This study was limited by being retrospective.

Conclusion: In our patients, LPP was associated with thyroid disease, especially hypothyroidism.

Keywords: alopecia; cicatricial alopecia; hypothyroidism; lichen planopilaris; thyroid disease; thyroiditis.