FAMILIAL ACTINIC LICHEN PLANUS: CASE REPORTS IN TWO BROTHERS

We report two cases of a 17- and 19-year-old brothers from Rasht (North of Iran), who presented with actinic lichen planus lesions. The younger brother had typical annular patches on his forehead and neck and violaceous papules on his neck. The second brother presented with pigmented melasma-like lesions on his face. Histopathologic studies revealed lichen planus-like eruptions. Many reports describe the tendency of familial lichen planus (LP) developing at an early age and to becoming severe or chronic, and having widespread atypical manifestations. Our report probably is the first, which describes familial occurrence of actinic LP and adds further evidence to the possible role of genetic factors in triggering and determining different types of LP other than the disease itself.