Ayurvedic management of lichen planus pemphigoid (Kitibha)

Abstract

Introduction: Lichen planus pemphigoides (LPP) is a rare autoimmune sub-epidermal blistering disease associated with lichenoid skin changes. Here, a 52 years female patient diagnosed with LPP for the last 1.5 years was on steroid therapy treated successfully with ayurvedic interventions is being reported. Main Clinical Findings: Dermatological examination revealed hypertrophic, black to purple colored, round-to-oval papular, flat-topped, well-circumscribed lesions (2–5 mm), symmetrically distributed over upper and lower limbs. Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) score was 34. Diagnosis: Blackish/purple lesions with roughness, itching and scaling correlated to Kitibha in classics. Interventions: Internal administration of decoction of Punarnava and Sahijana with Arogyavardhini vati and Tab Sumanta and external application of Apamarga kshara, Karanjadi and Somraji taila was prescribed as baseline treatment. Outcome: After 2 months of treatment, cessation of new lesions and marked reduction in itching and elevation was found. PASI score decreased to 9.6. In next follow-up, the elevation of lesions and symptoms completely declined and the skin reversed back close to normal texture. PASI score was also found 0. Conclusion: Ayurvedic interventions have proven effective potential in treating rare autoimmune disease like LPP.

Keywords

• karanja tail
• kitibha
• lichen planus
• punarnava
• somraji tail
• vatakaphashamaka