The risk of thyroid diseases in lichen sclerosus patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background/objective Lichen sclerosus (LS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease affecting both genital and extra-genital areas and is found predominantly in female patients. The relationship between LS and thyroid diseases remains unclear, with conflicting evidence reported in the literature. This...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Suvijak Untaaveesup, Piyawat Kantagowit, Nattawut Leelakanok, Wongsathorn Eiumtrakul, Petcharpa Chansate, Walaiorn Pratchyapruit, Chutintorn Sriphrapradang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Annals of Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/07853890.2025.2548978
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849229369544802304
author Suvijak Untaaveesup
Piyawat Kantagowit
Nattawut Leelakanok
Wongsathorn Eiumtrakul
Petcharpa Chansate
Walaiorn Pratchyapruit
Chutintorn Sriphrapradang
author_facet Suvijak Untaaveesup
Piyawat Kantagowit
Nattawut Leelakanok
Wongsathorn Eiumtrakul
Petcharpa Chansate
Walaiorn Pratchyapruit
Chutintorn Sriphrapradang
author_sort Suvijak Untaaveesup
collection DOAJ
description Background/objective Lichen sclerosus (LS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease affecting both genital and extra-genital areas and is found predominantly in female patients. The relationship between LS and thyroid diseases remains unclear, with conflicting evidence reported in the literature. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the association between LS and thyroid diseases rigorously.Materials and methods We conducted a comprehensive search using two electronic databases, MEDLINE and Embase, from inception to May 2024, to identify observational studies investigating the relationship between LS and thyroid diseases. A random-effects model was used to meta-analyse the pooled odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval (CI) from the included articles.Results A total of 14 observational articles encompassing 22,112,979 participants were included. Nine of these studies included only female participants. The analysis revealed that LS was significantly associated with an increased risk of autoimmune thyroid diseases, with an odds ratio of 2.38 (95% CI, 1.46–3.86; I2 = 84%). Additionally, an association was found between hyperthyroidism and an odds ratio of 2.01 (95% CI, 1.40–2.88; I2 = 0%). Furthermore, patients with LS exhibited a non-significant increase in the odds ratio for Graves’ disease, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, hypothyroidism and other unspecified thyroid disorders.Conclusions This meta-analysis provided insight into thyroid diseases in patients with LS, revealing a significant association with an increased risk of autoimmune thyroid disease and hyperthyroidism. Further research is needed to clarify this association and enhance the comprehensive care of patients with LS.
format Article
id doaj-art-4705e980bbce4917869f78b45cbf8a1a
institution Kabale University
issn 0785-3890
1365-2060
language English
publishDate 2025-12-01
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
record_format Article
series Annals of Medicine
spelling doaj-art-4705e980bbce4917869f78b45cbf8a1a2025-08-21T14:39:54ZengTaylor & Francis GroupAnnals of Medicine0785-38901365-20602025-12-0157110.1080/07853890.2025.2548978The risk of thyroid diseases in lichen sclerosus patients: a systematic review and meta-analysisSuvijak Untaaveesup0Piyawat Kantagowit1Nattawut Leelakanok2Wongsathorn Eiumtrakul3Petcharpa Chansate4Walaiorn Pratchyapruit5Chutintorn Sriphrapradang6Chao Khun Paiboon Hospital, Kanchanaburi, ThailandFaculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, ThailandDivision of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Burapha University, Chonburi, ThailandDepartment of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, ThailandFaculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathum Thani, ThailandInstitute of Dermatology, Ministry of Public Health, Bangkok, ThailandDepartment of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, ThailandBackground/objective Lichen sclerosus (LS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease affecting both genital and extra-genital areas and is found predominantly in female patients. The relationship between LS and thyroid diseases remains unclear, with conflicting evidence reported in the literature. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the association between LS and thyroid diseases rigorously.Materials and methods We conducted a comprehensive search using two electronic databases, MEDLINE and Embase, from inception to May 2024, to identify observational studies investigating the relationship between LS and thyroid diseases. A random-effects model was used to meta-analyse the pooled odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval (CI) from the included articles.Results A total of 14 observational articles encompassing 22,112,979 participants were included. Nine of these studies included only female participants. The analysis revealed that LS was significantly associated with an increased risk of autoimmune thyroid diseases, with an odds ratio of 2.38 (95% CI, 1.46–3.86; I2 = 84%). Additionally, an association was found between hyperthyroidism and an odds ratio of 2.01 (95% CI, 1.40–2.88; I2 = 0%). Furthermore, patients with LS exhibited a non-significant increase in the odds ratio for Graves’ disease, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, hypothyroidism and other unspecified thyroid disorders.Conclusions This meta-analysis provided insight into thyroid diseases in patients with LS, revealing a significant association with an increased risk of autoimmune thyroid disease and hyperthyroidism. Further research is needed to clarify this association and enhance the comprehensive care of patients with LS.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/07853890.2025.2548978Autoimmune thyroiditisGraves’ diseaseHashimoto diseasehyperthyroidismhypothyroidismmeta-analysis
spellingShingle Suvijak Untaaveesup
Piyawat Kantagowit
Nattawut Leelakanok
Wongsathorn Eiumtrakul
Petcharpa Chansate
Walaiorn Pratchyapruit
Chutintorn Sriphrapradang
The risk of thyroid diseases in lichen sclerosus patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Annals of Medicine
Autoimmune thyroiditis
Graves’ disease
Hashimoto disease
hyperthyroidism
hypothyroidism
meta-analysis
title The risk of thyroid diseases in lichen sclerosus patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full The risk of thyroid diseases in lichen sclerosus patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_fullStr The risk of thyroid diseases in lichen sclerosus patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed The risk of thyroid diseases in lichen sclerosus patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_short The risk of thyroid diseases in lichen sclerosus patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_sort risk of thyroid diseases in lichen sclerosus patients a systematic review and meta analysis
topic Autoimmune thyroiditis
Graves’ disease
Hashimoto disease
hyperthyroidism
hypothyroidism
meta-analysis
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/07853890.2025.2548978
work_keys_str_mv AT suvijakuntaaveesup theriskofthyroiddiseasesinlichensclerosuspatientsasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT piyawatkantagowit theriskofthyroiddiseasesinlichensclerosuspatientsasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT nattawutleelakanok theriskofthyroiddiseasesinlichensclerosuspatientsasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT wongsathorneiumtrakul theriskofthyroiddiseasesinlichensclerosuspatientsasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT petcharpachansate theriskofthyroiddiseasesinlichensclerosuspatientsasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT walaiornpratchyapruit theriskofthyroiddiseasesinlichensclerosuspatientsasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT chutintornsriphrapradang theriskofthyroiddiseasesinlichensclerosuspatientsasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT suvijakuntaaveesup riskofthyroiddiseasesinlichensclerosuspatientsasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT piyawatkantagowit riskofthyroiddiseasesinlichensclerosuspatientsasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT nattawutleelakanok riskofthyroiddiseasesinlichensclerosuspatientsasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT wongsathorneiumtrakul riskofthyroiddiseasesinlichensclerosuspatientsasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT petcharpachansate riskofthyroiddiseasesinlichensclerosuspatientsasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT walaiornpratchyapruit riskofthyroiddiseasesinlichensclerosuspatientsasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT chutintornsriphrapradang riskofthyroiddiseasesinlichensclerosuspatientsasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis