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Lipschütz ulcer
One of the first published cases of Lipschütz ulcer

Lipschütz ulcer, ulcus vulvae acutum or reactive non-sexually related acute genital ulcers (English: acute ulceration of the vulva) is a rare disease characterized by painful genital ulcers, fever, and lymphadenopathy, occurring most commonly, but not exclusively, in adolescents and young women. Previously, it was described as being more common in virgins. It is not a sexually transmitted infection, and is often misdiagnosed, sometimes as a symptom of Behçet's disease.

Lipschütz ulcer is named after Benjamin Lipschütz, who first described it in 1912. The cause is still unknown, although it has been associated with several infectious causes, including paratyphoid fever, cytomegalovirus, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Epstein–Barr virus infection

Signs and symptoms

The most common presentation is a single large, deep ulcer (although several smaller ulcers may occur) in the internal surface of one or both labia minora. The labia majora may be affected, as may the vagina and urethra. The ulcer develops very quickly, and is usually preceded by sudden onset of fever and malaise.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis is mainly clinical and centred in eliminating other more common causes for vulvar ulcers. Nevertheless, it has been proposed that Epstein-Barr detection using polymerase chain reaction for virus genome can help to reach sooner a diagnosis.

Treatment

Treatment is symptomatic, and usually of little value; in most cases, the ulcer heals spontaneously within four to six weeks, sometimes leaving scars. Topical analgesics and anesthetics, as well as topical application of disinfectants/astringents such as potassium permanganate (in sitz baths), is commonly used. In severe cases, a combination of systemic glucocorticoids and broad-spectrum antibiotics has been recommended.

Epidemiology

The disorder typically appears among young girls and adolescents but cases in children as young as 17 months have been reported.

History

The disease was first described in October 1912 by Galician-born Austrian dermatologist and microbiologist Benjamin Lipschütz, who published a series of four cases in girls aged 14 to 17. He initially ascribed the ulcer to infection with "Bacillus crassus" (Lactobacillus acidophilus).

See also

• Vulvovaginal health

References

1. ^ Lipschütz B (October 1912). "Über eine eigenartige Geschwürsform des weiblichen Genitales (Ulcus vulvae acutum)" (PDF). Arch Dermatol Res (in German). 114 (1): 363–96. doi:10.1007/BF01973166. S2CID 11890180.
2. Vieira-Baptista, Pedro; Lima-Silva, Joana; Beires, Jorge; Martinez-de-Oliveira, José (2016-03-01). "Lipschütz ulcers: should we rethink this? An analysis of 33 cases". European Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology. 198: 149–152. doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2015.07.016. ISSN 1872-7654. PMID 26297242.
3. Török L, Domján K, Faragó E (2000). "Ulcus vulvae acutum". Acta Dermatovenereologica Alpina, Pannonia et Adriatica. 9 (1). ISSN 1581-2979.
4. Kluger N, Garcia C, Guillot B (October 2009). "". J Gynecol Obstet Biol Reprod (Paris) (in French). 38 (6): 528–30. doi:10.1016/j.jgyn.2009.08.005. PMID 19744804.
5. ^ Lipschütz' ulcer at Who Named It? Retrieved on 2009-12-04.
6. Braun-Falco O, Plewig G, Wolff HH, Burgdorf WH, Landthaler M, eds. (2005). "Erkrankungen des weiblichen Genitales". Dermatologie und Venereologie (in German). Berlin: Springer. p. 1030. ISBN 978-3-540-40525-2.
7. ^ Burguete Archel E, Ruiz Goikoetxea M, Recari Elizalde E, Beristain Rementería X, Gómez Gómez L, Iceta Lizarraga A (May 2013). "Lipschütz ulcer in a 17-month-old girl: a rare manifestation of Epstein-Barr primoinfection". Eur. J. Pediatr. 172 (8): 1121–3. doi:10.1007/s00431-013-2013-8. PMID 23636284. S2CID 189872655.
8. Pelletier F, Aubin F, Puzenat E, et al. (2003). "Lipschütz genital ulceration: a rare manifestation of paratyphoid fever". Eur J Dermatol. 13 (3): 297–8. PMID 12804994.
9. Martín JM, Godoy R, Calduch L, Villalon G, Jordá E (2008). "Lipschütz acute vulval ulcers associated with primary cytomegalovirus infection". Pediatr Dermatol. 25 (1): 113–5. doi:10.1111/j.1525-1470.2007.00597.x. PMID 18304169. S2CID 23743938.
10. Vieira-Baptista, Pedro; Machado, Luísa; Costa, Ana Rosa; Beires, Jorge; Martinez-de-Oliveira, José (2013-07-01). "Mycoplasma pneumoniae: a rare cause of vulvar ulcers or an undiagnosed one?". Journal of Lower Genital Tract Disease. 17 (3): 330–334. doi:10.1097/LGT.0b013e3182710896. ISSN 1526-0976. PMID 23486069. S2CID 145823.
11. ^ Heller DS, Wallach RC (2007). Vulvar disease: a clinicopathological approach. Informa Healthcare. pp. 51–2. ISBN 978-0-8493-3793-2.

External links

• Gynaecologic disorders
• Virus-related cutaneous conditions
• Rare diseases