An immunophenotypic study of lichen nitidus.

Skin biopsies from three patients with lichen nitidus were studied using a battery of monoclonal antibodies against cells in the dermal infiltrate. In each case the findings were identical with a marked excess of CD4+ cells over CD8+ cells and the presence of large numbers of CD1+ cells. These results are very similar to those seen in lichen planus reinforcing the association between these two conditions.