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This report was written to describe a case of unilateral brimonidine-induced conjunctival lichen planus. Because the ophthalmic examination indicated chronic conjunctivitis or drug-induced pseudopemphigoid, the patient underwent thorough ophthalmic and systemic examinations, as well as conjunctival biopsy and direct immunofluorescence studies. A 71-year-old woman with unilateral left eye findings of chronic conjunctivitis was referred to our Ophthalmology Department. The patient reported that chronic conjunctivitis began shortly after she initiated use of topical brimonidine. Ophthalmic examination revealed foreshortening of the inferior fornix and symblepharon. Conjunctival biopsy revealed submucous lymphocytes and shaggy distribution of fibrinogen on direct immunofluorescence; this was suggestive of ocular lichen planus. No other systemic lesions were found that were consistent with the presentation of lichen planus. A good response was observed to topical cyclosporine treatment. To our knowledge, this may be the first report of unilateral ocular lichen planus without systemic findings. The correlation with the initiation of topical brimonidine suggests that this might be the first case of biopsy-confirmed brimonidine-induced ocular lichen planus.

Descrevemos um caso de ceratoconjuntivite cicatricial bilateral em uma paciente portadora de líquen plano e apresentamos revisão da literatura mundial sobre esse assunto. Cicatrização conjuntival, com formação de simbléfaro, olho seco, infiltração corneana, neovascularização e afinamento foram os sinais observados. Diagnóstico foi baseado nos achados clínicos e biópsia, após exclusão das causas típicas de ceratoconjuntivite cicatricial.To describe a case of bilateral cicatrizing keratoconjunctivitis in a patient with lichen planus and review the literature. Conjunctiva cicatrization with symblepharon formation, dry eye, corneal infiltration and neovascularization and thinning were the most observed prominent signs. Diagnosis was based on clinical findings and biopsy, after exclusion of typical causes of cicatricial keratoconjuntivitis.

Lichen planus (LP) is an autoimmune, inflammatory disease of unknown etiology that commonly affects the skin and mucous membranes. Retinal vasculitis is a group of vision-threatening disorders, in which autoimmunity is thought to play a role in pathogenesis. We present the case of a patient who was diagnosed with retinal vasculitis and who was followed up for mucosal LP. LP has not been reported as a cause of retinal vasculitis in the literature. We believe that the retinal vasculitis in this case was related to LP because cellular immunity plays a role in the pathogenesis of both entities.