Anemia, hematinic deficiencies, hyperhomocysteinemia, and serum gastric parietal cell antibody positivity in 588 patients with oral lichen planus

Abstract

Background/purposeOur previous study found that 21.9 %, 13.6 %, 7.1 %, 0.3 %, and 14.8 % of 352 oral lichen planus (OLP) patients have anemia, serum iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiencies, and hyperhomocysteinemia, respectively. This study mainly evaluated the anemia, hematinic deficiencies, hyperhomocysteinemia, and serum gastric parietal cell antibody (GPCA) positivity in a large group of 588 OLP patients. Materials and methodsThe blood hemoglobin (Hb) and serum iron, vitamin B12, folic acid, homocysteine, and GPCA levels in 588 OLP patients were measured and compared with the corresponding levels in 588 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects. ResultsWe found that 148 (25.2 %), 99 (16.8 %), 60 (10.2 %), 7 (1.2 %), 124 (21.1 %), and 139 (23.6 %) OLP patients had blood Hb, serum iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiencies, hyperhomocysteinemia, and serum GPCA positivity, respectively. Moreover, 588 OLP patients had significantly higher frequencies of blood Hb and serum iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiencies, hyperhomocysteinemia, and serum GPCA positivity than 588 healthy control subjects (all P-values <0.001 except P = 0.023 for folic acid deficiency). Of 148 anemic OLP patients, 68 had normocytic anemia, 32 had iron deficiency anemia, 19 had thalassemia trait-induced anemia, 17 had pernicious anemia, 7 had macrocytic anemia other than pernicious anemia, and 5 had microcytic anemia other than iron deficiency anemia and thalassemia trait-induced anemia. ConclusionOLP patients have significantly higher frequencies of blood Hb and serum iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiencies, hyperhomocysteinemia, and serum GPCA positivity than healthy control subjects.