Investigation of upper gastrointestinal tract involvement and H. pylori presence in lichen planus: a case–controlled study with endoscopic and histopathological findings

Abstract

Lichen planus (LP) is a common disease of unknown etiology. Rare mucosal involvements like esophageal LP have been reported increasingly. Infectious agents including H. pylori and other autoantigens have been investigated in etiology and association with certain gastrointestinal pathologies have been well documented. The aim of this study is to investigate the upper gastrointestinal tract involvement in LP and to evaluate the possible etiologic role of H. pylori. 49 LP patients and 35 volunteers (without LP) with gastrointestinal symptoms were included in the study as the control group. LP group was divided into subgroups regarding gastrointestinal symptoms. Upper videoendoscopy was performed in both groups and biopsies were taken from suspicious areas for LP, gastrointestinal diseases, H. pylori and examined histopathologically. SPSS 13 was used for the analysis. Groups/subgroups were compared via xi-square test, Mann-Whitney U test, and t-test. Gastrointestinal symptoms were recorded in 71% of LP group; none of LP patients presented typical esophageal LP. Gastrointestinal diseases were more frequent in LP group than controls, endoscopically. Chronic gastritis (91.8%) was the leading diagnosis in LP patients. Superficial gastritis was significantly higher (13.3%) in LP patients than controls (p = 0.04). LP was not diagnosed in any of the esophageal mucosa biopsies whereas lymphoid follicles were observed significantly higher in control group (p < 0.01) histopathologically. H. pylori positivity was found higher in LP group (81.6%) though statistically insignificant. We believe upper endoscopy should be performed to investigate esophageal LP and gastrointestinal pathologies especially when LP patient is symptomatic. Although we didn't detect esophageal LP, our study had the limitation of taking biopsies from pathological sites only. Since histopathological examination of normal appearing esophagus may help in diagnosing occult LP, and prevent eventual complications, it may be further evaluated in larger study groups. A new technique, magnification chromoendoscopy, may be useful in detecting esophageal involvement. We believe the possible role of H. pylori in LP is yet to be determined also.