TABLE 1.
Reference | Study type | Study population | Age (years) | Intervention | Follow‐up | Results | Complications |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Casabona et al., 2010 32 | Prospective, non‐controlled, non‐blinded, non‐randomized | N = 15, female, histologically proven LS | Range 27–62 |
10–15 cc lipoaspirate Co‐intervention: 5 cc PRP pre‐treated with 0.5 cc of calcium chloride for platelet degranulation Intramucosal, subdermal and submucosal Patients with severe fibrosis underwent one or two extra procedures, after 3 months respectively |
Questionnaires (non‐validated), photographic and physical evaluation up to 24 months postoperative. No specific index parameters were mentioned |
After 15 days symptoms started to improve. Itching and burning disappeared within one month. Four months after surgery, all patients reported total disappearance of pain, regained sexual activity and normal appearance of anatomical features of the vulva. No statistical analysis |
No adverse events were observed. All patients had moderate pain in the treated areas for 10 days after surgery |
Boero et al., 2015 33 | Prospective, non‐controlled, non‐blinded, non‐randomized | N = 36, female, histologically proven LS | Range 25–80 |
8–15 cc lipoaspirate All perivulvar layers up to the fascia |
Vulvoscopic examination and DLQI and FSFI questionnaires up to 24 months postoperative. Histological evaluation through punch biopsies preoperative and 8 months postoperative |
94% showed improved vulvar trophism of the skin and mucosa. QoL was significantly improved for both DLQI (p < 0.0001) and FSFI (p < 0.0001). On a histological level, reduction of hyperkeratosis (67%), reduction of chronic inflammation (89%), reduction of fibrosis (67%), increased angiogenesis (44%) and reduction of dermal oedema (33%) |
No adverse events were observed. 30% of patients had pain for 10 days after surgery |
Tamburino et al., 2016 34 | Case report | N = 1, female, histologically proven LS | 48 |
40 cc lipoaspirate Co‐intervention: 20 cc Nanofat Subcutaneous, intradermal |
Questionnaires (not validated) up to 8 months postoperative. No specific index parameters were mentioned |
Decreased symptoms and anatomical features of LS with the greatest improvement in the first two months postoperative and maintained up till 8 months. No specifications were mentioned |
Not described |
Onesti et al., 2016 35 | Prospective, non‐controlled, non‐blinded, non‐randomized | N = 8, female, 1 with symptoms during menopause, 2 with vulvar scarring due to chronic GVHD and 5 affected by LS | Range 38–75 |
2 cc ASC‐HA solution Subcutaneous of labia minora |
Histological, FSFI questionnaires and physical evaluation up to 24 months postoperative |
All patients mentioned pain reduction and improved sexual function. Histological examination in LS patients showed significantly reduction of dermis sclerosis, less dilated capillaries and reduced inflammatory infiltrate. No statistical analysis |
Not described |
Kim et al., 2017 36 | Case report | N = 1, female, affected by vaginal atrophy (no histologically proven LS) | 67 |
36 cc lipoaspirate Co‐intervention: 4 cc PRP Subcutaneous |
Physical evaluation up to 12 months postoperative. No specific index parameters were mentioned |
Relieve of vaginal pruritis and irritation, restoration of labia majora contour. White patchy lesions improved | No adverse events were observed |
Newman et al., 2018 37 | Prospective, non‐controlled, non‐blinded, non‐randomized | N = 111, female, histologically proven LS | Range 20–76 |
8–15 cc tSVF Co‐intervention: 2–3 cc PRP with Lidocaine with Epinephrine 1:100 000. Subcutaneous, intradermal |
Questionnaires (not validated) up to 3 months postoperative. No specific index parameters were mentioned |
All patients experienced improvement of symptoms, with a significant decrease per symptom of 38%–68% (p < 0.001) | No serious complications were described. Side effect, such as swelling, bruising, burning and discomfort were noted |
Stark et al., 2020 38 | Prospective, non‐controlled, non‐blinded, non‐randomized | N = 10, females affected by vaginal atrophy, vulvovaginal dystrophy, and/or stress urinary incontinence | Range 30–60 |
8.5–32 cc (average of 24 cc) Nanofat Subcutaneous and subepithelial |
Physical evaluation up to 12 months and questionnaires (not validated) up to 24 months. No specific index parameters were mentioned |
All patients reported an improvement of symptoms after 6–16 months, differing from sexual activity, improved vaginal appearance and itching. No statistical analysis |
No adverse events were observed |
Almadori et al., 2020 39 | Prospective, non‐controlled, non‐blinded, non‐randomized | N = 33, female, histologically proven LS | Range 38–63 |
10 cc lipoaspirate In labia majora, labia minora, clitoral area, posterior fourchette, perianal area |
FSFI, FSDS, VASs, PASS‐20, HADS, RAS and WMQ‐R questionnaires up to a mean follow up of 12.9 months postoperative | Improvement of sexual function (p < 0.001), as well as the distress associated with sexuality (p < 0.0001), romantic relationship (p < 0.05), anxiety (p < 0.0001) and depression (p < 0.0001). Decrease of symptoms such as itching (p < 0.001), burning (p < 0.05), soreness (p < 0.001), pain (p < 0.0001) | Not described |
Tedesco et al., 2020 40 | Prospective, controlled, non‐blinded, non‐randomized | N = 40, female and male, histologically proven LS | Range 43–78 |
15 cc tSVF Co‐intervention for 20 patients: 4 cc PRP Two procedures per patient distanced over 4‐months. Intradermally |
Physical examination during every visit and DLQI questionnaires up to 6 months follow up | Significant improvement of QoL was observed in both groups after one month. After 6 months the SVF‐group showed a significant improvement of QoL, the SVF‐PRP combination group little improvement compared to pre‐operative QoL | No severe or mild side effects were observed during and after the procedure |
Abbreviations: (t)SVF, (tissue or mechanically isolated) stromal vascular fraction; ASCs, adipose‐derived stromal cells; DLQI, dermatology life quality index; FSDS, female sexual distress scale; FSFI, female sexual function index; GVHD, graft versus host disease; HA, hyaluronic acid; HADS, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; LS, lichen sclerosus; PASS‐20, Pain Anxiety Symptom Scale Short Form 20; PRP, platelet rich plasma; QoL, quality of life; RASS, Richmond Agitation‐Sedation Scale; VASs, Visual Analogue Scale; WMQ‐R, Wound Management Questionnaire.