Proactive against reactive therapy for the prevention of lichen sclerosus exacerbation and progression of disease – a pragmatic, parallel group randomised controlled trial with embedded economic evaluation and process evaluation
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Vulval lichen sclerosus (LS) is a chronic inflammatory condition predominantly affecting female anogenital skin. It causes distressing symptoms that impact on daily living/quality of life (QOL), as well as causing progressive anatomical changes and increased cancer risk. First-line treatment with a very strong topical corticosteroid (TCS) brings LS into remission in around 70%. It is unclear how best to treat LS long-term. The PEARLS trial (ProactivE Against Reactive treatment for Lichen Sclerosus) will answer the research question: In people ≥5 years old with vulval LS, is maintenance treatment with a TCS twice weekly (‘proactive therapy’) better than as required treatment (‘reactive therapy’) for reducing number of flares over 12-months?
Source: NIHR Open Research
Author: Rosalind C. Simpson
Institution: University of Nottingham
Language: English
Topic: Genital Health and Disease
Subfield: Surgery
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7162815978