[Lichen planus and vaccination against hepatitis B].

INTRODUCTION

The association of lichen planus with liver diseases is now well established. Lichen planus following hepatitis B vaccination are much more unusual. We report here the fifth case of this kind.

CASE REPORT

A 16 years old girl developed a purely cutaneous lichen planus one week after the first injection of hepatitis B vaccine Gen Hevac B (Institut Pasteur), which appeared again 3 days after the second injection. The histologic features shown lichenoid pattern with intense keratinocytes necrosis more in favor of lichenoid drug eruption than lichen planus.

DISCUSSION

According to our knowledge, only four similar cases have been previously reported. Comparison between the different vaccines used shows that only the HBs antigen and its epitope S could be involved in the lichen planus eruption. Our case is specific due to the early appearance of the eruption after the first injection and by its histologic features.

CONCLUSION

New cases of lichen planus following hepatitis B vaccination should help to explain the causal relationship between lichen planus eruption and hepatitis B vaccination.