Lichen planus pigmentosus is a fairly common disorder of pigmentation in Indians, but reports comprising a sizeable number of patients are lacking in the literature. We now describe the clinical and epidemiological features and histopathological findings for 124 lichen planus pigmentosus patients. A retrospective analysis of medical records of patients attending our centre during the past 12 years was undertaken. Of the 124 patients (56 male, 68 female), the majority (48.4%) had the disease for 6 months to 3 years. The face and neck were the commonest sites affected with pigmentation varying from slate grey to brownish-black. The pattern of pigmentation was mostly diffuse (77.4%), followed by reticular (9.7%), blotchy (7.3%) and perifollicular (5.6%). Lichen planus was noted in 19 patients with typical histopathological changes of the disorder. Lichen planus pigmentosus, a distinct clinical entity commonly encountered in the Indian population, should be considered in the spectrum of lichenoid disorders as a variant of lichen planus.

Non-blinded trials of pemphigus vulgaris suggest that mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) may be beneficial. In a prospective, multicenter trial, outpatients with mild or moderate pemphigus vulgaris were randomized to MMF (2 or 3 g day(-1)) plus oral corticosteroids or placebo plus oral corticosteroids for 52 weeks. The primary end point was the proportion of patients in the placebo and combined MMF groups responding to treatment (absence of new, persistent oral or cutaneous lesions, and prednisone dose < or = 10 mg day(-1) from weeks 48 to 52). Of 96 randomized patients, 94 were given treatment and 75 completed the study. Treatment responses occurred in 40 of 58 patients (69.0%) in the combined MMF group and 23 of 36 (63.9%) in the placebo group (P=0.6558, 95% confidence interval -17.4 to 27.6). MMF-treated patients showed faster and more durable responses. In post hoc analyses, more patients taking MMF showed sustained responses for 3 or 6 months than did placebo patients. MMF was well tolerated. Although MMF did not show an advantage on the primary end point, there seemed to be a beneficial treatment effect on several secondary end points, including time to response and duration of response. Thus, MMF may be a potentially useful agent in patients with mild or moderate pemphigus vulgaris.

Lichen planus is a dermatosis of unknown origin with a very limited frequency in children. Over a period of one and a half years we observed 17 cases of childhood lichen planus. The classic form of the disease as seen in adults was the most common in these children; unlike adults, however, mucosal and nail involvement was uncommon. The natural history of the disease was similar to that in adults.

Well-designed studies on systemic therapeutic modalities for severe psoriasis in children are rare. Children with severe disease are treated with the support of data extrapolated from that in adult, although management in them differs from adults in several important aspects. Like other systemic modalities, data regarding the use of methotrexate in the treatment of childhood psoriasis is meager. This study aims to analyze the efficacy and safety of methotrexate in severe or disabling childhood psoriasis. The records of all the patients <18 years of age treated with systemic methotrexate at the psoriasis clinic of our institute from January 1993 to December 2006 were retrieved. Information regarding demographic profile, disease characteristics, response to treatment, side effects, etc. was noted from predesigned clinic proforma. Indications of methotrexate use were baseline psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) >10, disease refractory to conventional therapies and disabling psoriasis even though the psoriasis area and severity index was <10. Clinical status of patients was assessed at weekly intervals for the first 2 weeks, fortnightly during next month and then monthly. Response to therapy was graded as good (50-75% decrease in PASI) and excellent (>75% decrease in PASI). Laboratory investigations to detect methotrexate induced toxicity were performed at regular intervals. Of the 29 patients treated with methotrexate, 24 were eligible for the final data analysis. Indication for the institution of methotrexate therapy was severe disease, viz., extensive recalcitrant plaque type psoriasis in 17 patients, erythroderma and generalized pustular psoriasis of von-Zumbusch type in three patients each and severe disabling palmo-plantar involvement along with chronic plaque lesions in one patient. Response to therapy was excellent (>75% decrease in PASI) in all but two patients. The mean time to control the disease, i.e., 50% reduction in PASI was 5.1 weeks. Mean total cumulative dose of methotrexate in the first episode was 215 mg. The duration of remission could be calculated in nine patients only, varying from 1.5 months to 3 years. Side effects were mild, observed in nine children, which included nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. Methotrexate is an effective, cheap, easily available, and reasonably safe drug to be used in severe childhood psoriasis under an expert supervision and laboratory monitoring.

This study demonstrates that serial glycolic acid peels provide an additional effect to a topical regimen which is a modification of the time-tested Kligman's regimen for treating melasma in dark-complexioned individuals if used judiciously and under supervision. It demonstrates that superficial chemical peels are beneficial in the treatment of melasma.

NCES is significantly better than SBEG and should be the preferred treatment for patients with stable vitiligo. To best of our knowledge, this is the first study directly comparing these two techniques.

Low-dose isotretinoin seems to be a promising treatment modality in stabilizing and decreasing the pigmentation in LPP particularly in early and limited disease.

Vaccination against hepatitis B has been suggested to be causally related to the onset of LP in various published studies. However, only 16 of our patients had been vaccinated against hepatitis B. If there is a causal relationship, more cases of LP in children may occur in the future, as vaccination against hepatitis B becomes routine in India.