Identification of Genetic Variants Associated With Lichen Sclerosus

NCT07720830 — Recruiting, 100 participants, Gudula Kirtschig

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RegistryNCT07720830, acronym GENITALS
StatusRecruiting
Study typeObservational
Enrollment100 (Estimated)
SponsorGudula Kirtschig (Other); collaborators: Medbase, CECAD Research Center, Gyn-Zentren, Luzern und Cham, Klinik für Kinderurologie in Kooperation mit der Universität Regensburg Krankenhaus Barmherzige Brüder Regensburg - Klinik St. Hedwig
ConditionsLichen Sclerosus Lesion
InterventionsNo Interventions (Other)
Datesstart 2025-12-13, primary completion 2026-12-31 (estimated), completion 2027-12-31 (estimated), first posted 2026-07-22, last updated 2026-07-22
Locations1 site in Switzerland

Related Papers Related Patents Related Grants Related Experts
All trials for Lichen Sclerosus Lesion All trials of No Interventions

-Summary

Lichen Sclerosus (LS) is a common genital skin condition that severely impacts on daily living. LS occurs worldwide but may be more common in the white population. The extragenital skin is involved in about 10% of reported patients, exact numbers are not known. LS is estimated to affect 0.1-0.3% of new patients in a general hospital patient population and 1.7% of patients referred to general gynaecological practice, however, the exact prevalence and incidence is not known. LS has a major impact on the quality of life, as symptoms of itching, pain and discomfort can make it difficult to sit, walk and go to the toilet. Having sex becomes painful because of erosions and fissures (break down of the skin), sometimes impossible because of irreversible fusion (sticking together) and sclerosis (hardening) of the genital skin. There is an increased risk of genital cancer in individuals with LS, this seems higher in familial cases. Next to a genetic background leading to a dysregulation of the immune system, certain external trigger mechanisms seem to play an important role in the development of LS.

In this project the investigators propose to identify pathogenic variants in novel protein-coding genes that may be involved in Lichen sclerosus using samples from families with members manifesting LS. Through elucidating underlying pathomechanims which have not yet been fully explored the development of novel treatments may be possible.

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+Detailed description

The project plan is to identify genetic variants associated with lichen sclerosus. The investigators intend to identify differences in the genome in family members affected by LS and those who are not affected by LS.

The investigators hypothesize that enrollment and sequencing the genome of families with LS would lead to the discovery of novel genetic factors underlying LS. "Success" as measured by discovery of novel Mendelian genes will be inherent to our capacity to recruit a large number of families preferably with multiple affected individuals. This "opportunistic" and "somewhat untargeted" approach is essential to reach our aim of identifying novel LS-associated genes.

The investigators' project does not have classical primary and secondary endpoints as one or multiple parameters are not followed and because the study is not performed within a clinical trial frame. The investigators' primary endpoint will be having sequenced the exome/genome of families with LS and solved the segregation of variants of interest in the rest of the pedigree, "Number of participants with potential LS genes". The secondary endpoint will be the identification of novel LS genes, "Number of genes associated with LS identified".

+Arms and interventions

  • No Interventions (Other): this is no interventional study

+Outcome measures

Primary outcomes

  • Identification of novel Lichen sclerosus genes [5 years]: Our project does not have classical primary and secondary endpoints as we are not following one or multiple parameters and because we are not within a clinical trial frame. Our primary endpoint will be having sequenced the exome/genome of families with LS and solved the segregation of variants of interest in the rest of the pedigree "Number of Participants with potential LS genes". The secondary endpoint will be the identification of novel LS genes "Number of genes associated with LS identified".

Secondary outcomes

  • Novel Lichen sclerosus genes [5 years]: The secondary endpoint will be the identification of novel LS genes "Number of genes associated with LS identified".

Other outcomes

  • Novel LS genes [5 years]: Our project does not have classical primary and secondary endpoints as we are not following one or multiple parameters and because we are not within a clinical trial frame. Our primary endpoint will be having sequenced the exome/genome of families with LS and solved the segregation of variants of interest in the rest of the pedigree. The secondary endpoint will be the identification of novel LS genes.

+Eligibility

Sex: All, ages: 1 Year to any, accepts healthy volunteers

Inclusion Criteria:

* Individual with clinical or /and histological Lichen sclerosus
* Family member of an individual with lichen sclerosus

Exclusion Criteria:

* No Family member with lichen sclerosus

+Locations (1)

FacilityCityCountryStatus
MedbaseFrauenfeld, ThurgauSwitzerlandRecruiting

+Publications

  • Kirtschig G, Kinberger M, Kreuter A, Simpson R, Gunthert A, van Hees C, Becker K, Ramakers MJ, Corazza M, Muller S, von Seitzberg S, Boffa MJ, Stein R, Barbagli G, Chi CC, Dauendorffer JN, Fischer B, Gaskins M, Hiltunen-Back E, Hofinger A, Kollmann NH, Kuhn H, Larsen HK, Lazzeri M, Mendling W, Nikkels AF, Promm M, Rall KK, Regauer S, Sardy M, Sepp N, Thune T, Tsiogka A, Vassileva S, Voswinkel L, Wolber L, Werner RN. EuroGuiderm guideline on lichen sclerosus-Treatment of lichen sclerosus. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2024 Oct;38(10):1874-1909. doi: 10.1111/jdv.20083. Epub 2024 Jun 1. PMID 38822598
  • Kirtschig G, Kinberger M, Kreuter A, Simpson R, Gunthert A, van Hees C, Becker K, Ramakers MJ, Corazza M, Muller S, von Seitzberg S, Boffa MJ, Stein R, Barbagli G, Chi CC, Dauendorffer JN, Fischer B, Gaskins M, Hiltunen-Back E, Hofinger A, Kollmann NH, Kuhn H, Larsen HK, Lazzeri M, Mendling W, Nikkels AF, Promm M, Rall KK, Regauer S, Sardy M, Sepp N, Thune T, Tsiogka A, Vassileva S, Voswinkel L, Wolber L, Werner RN. EuroGuiderm guideline on lichen sclerosus-introduction into lichen sclerosus. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2024 Oct;38(10):1850-1873. doi: 10.1111/jdv.20082. Epub 2024 Jun 1. PMID 38822578

+Investigators