Establishing Effective Diagnostic Criteria for Lichen Sclerosus V1.0

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Establishing Effective Diagnostic Criteria for Vulval Lichen Sclerosus: A Diagnostic Test Accuracy Study

  • IRAS ID

    332947

  • Contact name

    Rosalind Simpson

  • Contact email

    rosalind.simpson@nottingham.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    University of Nottingham

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    2 years, 0 months, 1 days

  • Research summary

    There is currently no specific checklist that can guide the diagnosis of vulval lichen sclerosus (LS), and as such, the condition is often misdiagnosed, or that diagnosis is delayed. This study aims to improve the diagnosis of LS through testing an internationally expert-agreed 'checklist' (diagnostic criteria) in a clinical setting to help non-experts and patients identify LS more easily. 407 women (≥18 years of age) who have been referred to a skin specialist with a vulval skin complaint by their GP will attend a single research appointment where both the patient’s managing clinician and a second health professional who is blinded to the clinician's diagnosis will conduct separate vulval examinations, in addition to taking optional clinical photographs of the patient's LS condition. This will enable the assessment of how well the checklist can identify LS compared to other vulval complaints.

  • REC name

    London - Camberwell St Giles Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    24/LO/0290

  • Date of REC Opinion

    21 May 2024

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion