[Pathology of connective tissue and nerve fibers in lichen sclerosus et atrophicans and in genital atrophies].

Comparative histological and neurohistological investigations in various atrophic conditions of the vulva (lichen sclerosus et atrophicans, vulvar kraurosis and senile vulvar atrophy) have been performed. Lichen sclerosus et atrophicans is an idiopathic disease within the group of atrophic inflammatory conditions. The main lesions involve the subepidermal zone which is surrounded by an inflammatory infiltration and shows at the same time the degeneration of all the fibrous and cellular components of the tissue. The resulting metabolic disturbances in the lesions enhance the degenerative processes. A neurohistological examination revealed pronounced symptoms of degeneration in the peripheral nervous system, which seems to be confirmed by the changes in LSA-lesions. Kraurosis vulvae is a separate disease and a peculiar variety of "sclerosing atrophy" leading to atrophy of the vulva and stenosis of the vaginal orifice, with atrophy of the elastic fibers, and with signs of the atrophy of the peripheral nervous network without features of degeneration. Senile atrophy of the vulva is an involuntary process without inflammatory features, in which the thinning of the entire skin and atrophy of the appendages and elastic fibers is accompanied by atrophy of the peripheral nervous system. The obtained results stress the differences which justify classification of these conditions as separate entities.