Blaschko-linear lichen planus of the face: A retrospective study of 6 cases and a literature review.

INTRODUCTION AND METHODS: Different clinical and histological variants of lichen planus (LP) exist, such as lichen planopilaris, pigmentosus, linear, or atrophic LP. Recently, some cases came to our attention of hyperpigmented and atrophic linear lesions of the face with lichenoid histology, suggesting a combination of these different variants. We carried out a single-center, retrospective descriptive study of 6 similar cases selected from our database and compared them with a literature review. RESULTS: There were 4 males and 2 females of mean age 42 years. Each had linear lesions located on one side of the face. All lesions were initially itchy; they appeared hyperpigmented in all patients and atrophic in 5 cases. Biopsies indicated lichen planopilaris in 5 patients, with deep peri-eccrine involvement in 4 of them. Only 2 of the 6 patients had extra-facial lesions. DISCUSSION AND LITERATURE REVIEW: We found 24 cases in the literature having similar clinical and histological aspects. Men aged around 37 years seemed particularly affected. An atrophic course was noticed in 10 patients. Such a clinicopathological picture may suggest differential diagnoses like lichen striatus, lupus erythematosus, lichen sclerosus atrophicus, or Moulin's linear atrophoderma. Early histopathological examination could be of precious assistance in allowing the initiation of effective treatment immediately as of the initial inflammatory phase, thereby limiting the risk of cosmetic sequelae such as atrophy or residual pigmentation. CONCLUSION: We describe a form of facial lichen planus that is highly particular in terms of its follicular tropism, its blaschkoid distribution, its pigmented character, and its atrophic progression.

Monoclonal antibody-based dual-label time-resolved fluorometric assays in a simplified one-step format.

We have performed a one-step all-in-one dual-label dry reagent time-resolved fluorometric assay measuring free and total prostate-specific antigen (PSA). All assay-specific components were predried in an ordinary microtitration well, including the Eu and Tb chelate-labeled monoclonal antibodies for the recognition of free and total PSA, respectively. Only the sample and assay buffer needed to be added. Optimally, equilibrium was reached in <15 min. New intrinsically fluorescent Eu and Tb chelates were used, which made it possible to read the fluorescence directly from the solid phase. The developed dual-label assay with the simple protocol is ideal for easy automation, as the reaction wells can be of alternative design. The performance characteristics are equivalent to those of the present state-of-the-art single-label assays. The detection limits for free and total PSA were 0.03 and 0.02 microg/L, respectively, and the assays were linear over the range tested (up to 300 microg/L).

One-step all-in-one dry reagent immunoassays with fluorescent europium chelate label and time-resolved fluorometry.

The availability of an intrinsically fluorescent, inert, and stable Eu chelate label made it feasible to design one-step all-in-one immunoassays with time-resolved fluorometry for detection. Both competitive and noncompetitive immunoassays are performed in microtitration wells containing all assay-specific components in a stable dry form. Only the sample and one assay buffer common for all analytes need to be added. Model assays for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and progesterone all reached equilibrium in 15 min or less without compromising the performance characteristics of the measurements, all of which perform at least equivalent to state-of-the-art assays. The detection limits for hCG, AFP, and progesterone were 0.3 IU/L, 0.1 microgram/L, and 0.5 nmol/L, respectively. The assay ranges for hCG and AFP were linear to 5000 IU/L and 1200 micrograms/L, respectively. The immunoassay format can be readily implemented in a fully automated random-access immunoassay system with optimal performance characteristics and no handling of analyte-specific assay components.