Abstract

BackgroundOral lichen Planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory disease involving skin and mucous membranes. Its etiology is still uncertain whilst an autoimmune mechanism is known to be implicated. OLP is commonly considered a geriatric disease and gender differences in prevalence are clear, whereby females are generally more frequently affected than males more often during the 5th and 6th decades of life. Lesions are symmetrical and bilateral and the buccal mucosa is frequently involved. The risk of malignant transformation is extremely low.This study aims to describe both the clinical characteristics and the prevalence of OLP among a group of patients from Southern Italy. The results of the present study were compared to analogous retrospective studies.MethodsEighty-seven (31 man and 56 woman) cases of OLP were retrospectively reviewed and demographic and clinical data were collected. Data about OLP as clinical forms, oral and extraoral sites involved and Visual Analogue Scale were also recorded.ResultsThe average age of OLP onset was 59.2 years. The most common clinical presentation was the hyperkeratosic type. Symptomatic OLP was noted in 26.8 % of the patiens. The most frequently affected oral sites were buccal mucosa, tongue, gums. The most frequently associated systemic diseases were diabetes, hypertension, C hepatitis and thyroiditis. Only one patient developed a malignant transformation (1.2 %).ConclusionsPrevious retrospective studies report data partially comparable with our results. Different geographic area, number of enrolled patients and OLP classification criteria may justify the observed differences.

Highlights

  • Oral lichen Planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory disease involving skin and mucous membranes

  • The rate of malignant transformation of OLP seems to be lowest than lichenoid dysplasia (1.09 vs. 3.20) but an accurate and prolonged follow-up period is necessary for OLP patients [11]

  • This retrospective study analyzed all consecutive patients affected by OLP referred to the Dental Clinic of University of Bari between January 2011 and June 2014

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Summary

Introduction

Oral lichen Planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory disease involving skin and mucous membranes. Lichen planus is a quite common chronic inflammatory disease of the skin and mucous membranes, in which the immunological system is believed to play a leading role [1]. It affects all racial groups whit an estimated incidence of 0.5 %–1.5 % [2, 3]. The etiology of the oral lichen planus (OLP) remains still unclear, but probably an unknown antigen alters the basal keratinocytes of the oral mucosa making them a target of the cell immune response. The rate of malignant transformation of OLP seems to be lowest than lichenoid dysplasia (1.09 vs. 3.20) but an accurate and prolonged follow-up period is necessary for OLP patients [11]

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