[Lichen ruber planus and lichen ruber verrucosus of the skin: therapeutic results using vitamin A acid in 98 patients].

98 patients, 50 suffering from papular lichen planus of the skin, 48 suffering from hypertrophic lichen planus, were treated systemically or topically with vitamin A acid. In 52 out of the 98 patients, the treatment was started within the first 3 months after the beginning of the disease. The patients with papular lichen planus improved rapidly to systemic vitamin A acid administration. In hypertrophic lichen planus only topical vitamin A acid application showed satisfactory results. The possible side effects of this treatment are mentioned. Patients with disturbed hepatocellular of hepatocystic conditions are unsuitable for vitamin A acid therapy.