Status of free-radical oxidation and proliferation processes in patients with atopic dermatitis and lichen planus.

We studied the status of proliferation processes (by Ki-67 expression) and biogenesis of free radicals (by chemiluminescence method) in skin biopsy specimens from patients with atopic dermatitis and lichen planus. The index of Ki-67-positive nuclei significantly (p<0.05) increased to 28.40±2.00% in patients with dermatitis and to 32.6±1.9% in patients with lichen planus vs. 8.65±1.31% in the reference sample. Decompensated accumulation of free-radical oxidation products and inhibition of detoxification systems in skin biopsy specimens indicate the development of local oxidative stress. After therapy consisting of two 10-day courses of thymodepressin injections (0.1%, 1.0 ml) over 30 days, normalization of epidermis proliferation was observed. Labeling index in atopic dermatitis and lichen planus significantly decreased (p<0.05) to 17.00±1.87 and 10.9±1.1%, respectively. The role of free radicals in the development of hyperregeneratory processes during dermatoses is discussed.