Oxidative stress in lichen planus

Increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxides have been implicated in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, vitiligo, and lichen planus (LP). We therefore evaluated the status of oxidative stress and the antioxidant defense system in Egyptian patients with LP.

This study included 45 Egyptian LP patients and 45 healthy volunteers as controls that were age- and sex-matched with the patients. Serum levels of nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and erythrocyte catalase (CAT) were measured.

There was an increase in the serum levels of NO, SOD and the lipid peroxidation product MDA (p = 0, p = 0.009 and p = 0.005, respectively) and a decrease in CAT levels in LP patients compared to controls (p = 0), leading to an imbalance in the antioxidant defense system in our study. Oxidative stress was greater in men than in women because MDA levels were increased (p = 0.045) and erythrocyte CAT levels were decreased (p = 0). In addition, there was also a positive correlation between NO, MDA, and SOD and a negative correlation between erythrocyte CAT and the duration of LP. No relation between the four parameters and the clinical types of LP was noted.

Our findings point to an increase in oxidative stress and an imbalance in the antioxidant defense mechanisms in LP. This may play a role in the pathogenesis of LP.