Does the Clinical Form of Oral Lichen Planus (OLP) Influence the Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL)?

Linda Daume,Johannes Kleinheinz,Constance Kreis,Lauren Bohner,Susanne Jung

doi:10.3390/ijerph17186633

Abstract

(1) Background: The aim of the study was to investigate the oral health–related quality of life (OHRQoL) of patients with oral lichen planus (OLP) and to evaluate differences between the various clinical forms of OLP. Specifically, the differences in OHRQoL, physical pain levels and eating restriction were assessed; (2) Methods: One hundred and twelve patients with clinical and histological features of OLP from the Department of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery of the Münster University Hospital participated in this prospective study. OHRQoL was analysed by using the German short version of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14). Physical pain levels and restriction in eating were rated on visual analogue scales (VAS). The statistical analysis was performed using the Mann–Whitney U-Test and the chi-squared test with a significance level at p = 0.05; (3) Results: Group 1 consisted of patients with reticular OLP (n = 50) and group 2 of patients with atrophic, erosive-ulcerative or bullous OLP (n = 62). The average OHIP-14 score was 13.54 points and differed significantly between the two groups. There were significant differences in the domains “physical pain”, “psychological discomfort”, “physical disability” and “social disability”. The VAS “physical pain” score and “restriction in eating” score varied significantly between the clinical forms. Positive correlations were found between the OHIP-14 total scores and the VAS scores; (4) Conclusion: The OHRQoL is significantly limited in patients with OLP; especially, patients with erosive-ulcerative OLP are affected.

Highlights

Oral lichen planus (OLP)is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune oral mucosa disease
Our results showed that patients with OLP, in general, have a significantly reduced oral health–related quality of life (OHRQoL)
The clinical form of OLP is an important indicator for assessing the impact of the disease on quality of life

Summary

Introduction

Oral lichen planus (OLP)is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune oral mucosa disease. The etiology is unclear but a T-cell-mediated chronic inflammatory oral mucosal disease is discussed. Various mechanisms as antigen-specific and non-specific are hypothesised to be involved in the pathogenesis [4]. The clinical picture of OLP varies from small barely visible fine white lesions to large areas that can affect the entire oral mucosa. The symptoms are variable, ranging from no symptoms to severe intraoral pain. About two-thirds of the patients describe a burning sensation and pain in the area of the oral mucosa, which leads to difficulties and restrictions in eating, speaking and swallowing [4]. Natural courses of OLP usually involve active disease phases and periods of remission. According to Andreasen’s clinical classification, reticular, papular, plaque, atrophic, erosive-ulcerative and bullous forms can be distinguished [5]

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