Drug-induced oral lichenoid reactions in patients consuming antihypertensive drugs

Abstract

Objectives: High blood pressure (HBP) is a persistent and widespread condition, and increasing numbers of patients are taking medication to reduce HBP symptoms and control blood pressure. Patients taking specific antihypertensive medications have been reported to experience oral lichenoid reactions. Various antihypertensive drugs have entered the market, and it is essential to study how they may affect the occurrence of oral lichenoid reactions. This study aimed at assessing the frequency of drug-induced oral lichenoid responses in patients receiving antihypertensive medications.
 Methods: Four hundred fifty patients who took hypertension medications referring to Seyed al-Shohdai Hospital in Urmia in 2021 were the subject of this cross-sectional study. After the patient's first visit to the hospital, a thorough medical history was obtained from them. The type, dose, and duration of antihypertensive medications taken at the study's time were questioned and documented together with demographic data. The diagnosis of the oral lichenoid reactions was then made by examining the patients. Chi-square and Spearman's correlation tests were used in SPSS version 26 to evaluate the data.
 Results: Oral lichenoid reaction was observed in about 3.3% of patients. The average age of patients who showed oral lichenoid reaction was 53.7 ± 7.1, they had taken medicine for an average of 1 to 30 months, and 66.7% were female.
 Conclusions: Patients taking antihypertensive drugs, e.g., hydrochlorothiazide, methyldopa, metoprolol, and propranolol, should be examined and followed up regarding oral lichenoid reactions.