Health-related quality of life and patient-defined benefit of clobetasol 0.05% in women with chronic lichen sclerosus of the vulva.

Background: This study investigates the health-related quality of life in patients with vulvar lichen sclerosus (LS) and the patient-defined therapeutic benefit of clobetasol.

Methods: A survey analysis of 96 women with LS after treatment with clobetasol was performed. Quality of life was assessed with the Skindex-29. The Patient Benefit Index (PBI) was used to determine the therapeutic benefit.

Results: The overall response rate was 59.2%. Quality of life was most impaired by somatic symptoms (scale 'Symptoms' score 3.2) and emotional stress (scale 'Emotions' score 3.1), while social interactions (scale 'Functioning' score 1.9) played an inferior role (p < 0.001). Primary therapeutic goals 'to have confidence in the therapy' and 'to be free of itching' were achieved in 73.2 and 69.0% of patients who indicated the goal applied to them. The global PBI score was 3.06. In 93.2% of patients it was >1, indicating a potential benefit from clobetasol.

Conclusion: Topical clobetasol is of potential therapeutic benefit for patients with vulvar LS and might therefore improve quality of life.