Exclusive plaque psoriasis of the lips: efficacy of combination therapy of topical tacrolimus, calcipotriol, and betamethasone dipropionate.

Abstract

A 16-year-old unmarried woman presented with recurrent cracking of the lips indicated by the appearance of grayish white flakes since October 2004, which, in due course, shed off leaving behind an apparently normal mucous membrane. Chewing roasted corn treated with salt and lemon (bhutta) initially caused the lesions. Ever since, it has been a cause of its exacerbation. She never had any relief with either systemic or topical treatment. In fact, an obsession had overtaken her, resulting in a psychological setback. She denied regular drug use for any other ailment. Her menstrual cycle was normal. There was a positive history of psoriasis in her mother. Examination of the lips was conspicuous. It was marked by the presence of a well-circumscribed, moist, raised plaque (Figure 1). Its surface was irregular, with elevation and depression. It was made up of thick, grayish white scales, which were arranged in layers; however, Grattage/Auspitz sign could not be elicited. Fissuring was prominent but the buccal mucosa, surface of the tongue, gingiva, and palate were normal. The clinical examination did not reveal any evidence of skin and/or nail psoriasis/psoriatic arthropathy or any other systemic abnormality. Blood examination including total and differential leukocyte count, complete hemogram, and liver and renal function tests were normal. Biopsy of the representative lesion was subjected to serial sections. They were stained with hematoxylin-eosin to work up microscopic pathology. It revealed the presence of mounds of parakeratosis with numerous neutrophilic Munro microabscesses (Figure 2). Submucosal vessels were dilated and congested. Periodic-acid-Schiff (PAS) stain revealed fungal hyphae and spores within the parakeratotic layer. Colonies of Gram-positive cocci were also demonstrated on the surface of the mucosa. She was administered combination therapy, comprising topical tacrolimus (0.1%) ointment and calcipotirol hydrate (50 microg/g) plus betmethasone dipropionate (0.5 mg/g) twice a day for 7 days. A single bolus dose of fluconazole 450 mg orally was also administered. The response to treatment was favorable and the lesions showed regression (Figure 3).