Studying the relationship between oral lichen planus and periodontal disease: Value on periodontal pathogens and oral hygiene

BACKGROUND: Oral lichen planus is a chronic inflammatory condition of the oral mucosa characterized by white, lacy lesions. The etiology of oral lichen planus is complex and remains unclear, but it is thought to be a T-cell mediated autoimmune disease. Several factors have been implicated in the pathogenesis of oral lichen planus, including genetic predisposition, dental materials, iatrogenic factors, infections, autoimmunity, and bowel disease. The microflora of the oral cavity plays an important role in maintaining oral health and preventing disease. However, its role in the development and progression of oral lichen planus is not yet totally understood. Some studies have shown that there are differences in the microflora of oral lichen planus patients compared to healthy controls. These differences may be related to the inflammatory process in oral lichen planus, or they may be a contributing factor to the disease.

AIM: Identify the prevalence of the detection of periodontopathogenic microorganisms in oral lichen planus patients and compare their prevalence in healthy non-oral lichen planus patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional, single-center study was conducted. A total of 75 patients were recruited, 45 with oral lichen planus and 30 healthy controls. The groups were formed by simple random sampling. The diagnosis of oral lichen planus was confirmed histologically in the main group. The forms and localization of oral lichen planus were determined in the main group based on clinical examination. In the control group, patients were divided into two subgroups depending on the presence of chronic periodontitis or gingivitis. The prevalence of periodontal pathogens was assessed based on the analysis of culture results. Among the 48 bacteria isolated from the oral mucosa of the affected site in the main and control groups, we focused on the microbiota of only periodontal bacteria to study their role and assess their impact on disease progression.

RESULTS: Among the 45 patients with a clinical diagnosis of oral lichen planus, there were 10 (22.22%) men and 35 (77.78%) women, with a mean age of 55.3±13.4 years. The control group included 30 healthy volunteers, 8 (26.67%) men and 22 (73.33%) women, with a mean age of 54.8±12.7 years. In patients with oral lichen planus regardless of their periodontal status the percentage of seropositivity for A. actinomycetemcomitans, V. parvula, P. gingivalis, T. denticola is higher compared to their healthy counterparts with gingivitis and periodontitis.

CONCLUSION: The study found an increased frequency of detection of pathogenic microorganisms, such as A. actinomycetemcomitans, V. parvula, P. gingivalis, and T. denticola, in patients with oral lichen planus, regardless of the presence of periodontitis. These periodontopathogens may be associated with oral lichen planus. However, further studies are needed to clarify their role in the pathogenesis of the disease.