Does Steroid Plus CO2 Laser Improve Lichen Sclerosus Symptoms Compared to Steroids Alone?

A Randomized, Unblinded Trial of Topical Steroids Plus CO2 Laser Compared to Steroids Alone in the Treatment of Vulvovaginal Lichen Sclerosus

This study will compare the effects of fractionated CO2 laser plus topical steroids versus topical steroids alone in treatment of lichen sclerosus.

Vulvar lichen sclerosus is a common benign skin condition which causes pain and itching. Topical steroids have been the main treatment. A recent study showed that fractionated CO2 laser treatment is non inferior and actually may improve subjective symptoms compared to topical steroids with no serious safety or adverse events. Because steroids reduce risk of vulvar cancer in patients with lichen sclerosus, the investigators hypothesize that steroids in addition to the fractionated laser will provide greater symptom relief while still allowing patient the benefits of steroid treatment.

The Skindex-29 is a validated tool to assess impact of a chronic skin condition on a person's quality of life. It has been previously used to describe the effects of a treatment and to compare treatments. Values range from 1 (Never) to 5 (All the time). The higher the score, the worse the outcome.

Providers will use this scale to objectively assess vulvar appearance. The tool uses is scored from 0 to 3 (0= absent, 1= mild, 2= moderate, 3= severe) on nine different features of lichen sclerosus (white plaques or hypopigementation, cigarette paper or thin skin, introital narrowing, perianal involvment, loss of labia minora, fusion of labia minora, vulvar fissures, and vulvar erosion). A higher score indicates a higher severity. A higher change in score indicates greater improvement.

Providers will use this scale to subjectively assess improvement in vulvar appearance. The provider will grade the improvement from baseline on a 6 point scale, with 0 being "much worse" and 5 being "much better".

This 21 item questionnaire assess four aspects impacting quality of life for patients with vulvovaginal skin diseases: symptoms, emotions, life impact and sexual impact. A higher score corresponds to more bothersome symptoms. The values are 0 (No) or 1 (Yes). The higher the score, the worse the outcome. A higher change in these scores indicates more improvement.

A subset of the total score on the VSQ, looking at symptoms only. A higher score corresponds to more bothersome symptoms. The values are 0 (No) or 1 (Yes). The higher the score, the worse the outcome. A higher change in these scores indicates more improvement.

A subset of the total score on the VSQ, looking at scores for emotions questions only. A higher score corresponds to more emotional impact. The values are 0 (No) or 1 (Yes). The higher the score, the worse the outcome. A higher change in these scores indicates more improvement.

A subset of the total score on the VSQ, looking at scores for life impact questions only. A higher score corresponds to more impact. The values are 0 (No) or 1 (Yes). The higher the score, the worse the outcome. A higher change in these scores indicates more improvement.

A subset of the total score on the VSQ, looking at scores for sexual impact questions only. A higher score corresponds to more impact. The values are 0 (No) or 1 (Yes). The higher the score, the worse the outcome. A higher change in these scores indicates more improvement.

5 point scale of satisfaction: 0 = very unsatisfied, 1 = unsatisfied, 2 = neutral, 3 = satisfied, 4 = very satisfied

This measures the subjects perception of 9 key vulvovaginal symptoms: itching, burning, irritation, pain with intercourse, tearing of vulvar skin, painful urination and painful defecation. Each is scored from 0 -10, with 10 indicating the most symptoms.

Inclusion Criteria: women with biopsy proven lichen sclerosus and significant symptoms based on Skindex-29 scores >21 Exclusion Criteria: prior vaginal mesh or pelvic radiation active genital infection Current or past gynecologic malignancy