Oral lichen planus in Arab countries : a review

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic mucocutaneous inflammatory disease of unknown etiology with a potential for malignant transformation. Little is known about the epidemiology of this condition in the Arab world. A computer-based literature search was conducted using relevant keywords to retrieve studies conducted in Arab world pertaining to OLP, 28 articles were identified initially. After screening for exclusion criteria/retrieving full texts, a total of 15 articles were used for this review. Three studies were cross-sectional and found a prevalence ranging from 0.35% to 1.7%. Studies about risk factors and prognostic markers were conducted in clinical settings, using a case-control design mostly (n = 9), cohort (n = 2), and clinical trial (n = 1). Genetic expressions of various proteins (e.g., BCL family), cultural determinants (Deram chewing), bacterial and viral infections [Helicobacter pylori and Hepatitis C virus (HCV)] were among factors investigated. Evidence extracted from these studies shows a possible link between OLP and Deram use, H. pylori and HCV Infections with a prevalence of the latter infection ranging from 14.7% to 26.3% in patients with OLP. However, paucity of population-based studies limits generalizability of such evidence. Future studies in the Arab world should focus upon surveying the extent of OLP, identifying cultural risk factors, utilization of OLP genetic markers in diagnostic, and prognostic applications.