Oral lichenoid lesions and serum antinuclear antibodies in Thai patients

The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of serum antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in Thai oral lichenoid drug reaction (OLDR) and oral lichen planus (OLP) patients.

This study comprised 20 patients diagnosed with OLDR, 23 patients with OLP, and 24 healthy control subjects. Participants' blood samples were assayed for ANA staining patterns and serum ANA titer levels by immunofluorescence using human epithelial type 2 (HEp-2) as a substrate. The serum ANA titer levels were defined as low (1:40-1:80), medium (1:160-1:320), and high (>1:640).

Serum ANA were detected in 73.9%, 70%, and 25% of OLP, OLDR, and control subjects, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between the number of serum-ANA-positive subjects in the OLP or OLDR groups and the control group (P < 0.01), but no significant difference between the OLP and OLDR groups. The speckled pattern was the most commonly found staining pattern, present in 60.9%, 55.0%, and 20.8% of the OLP, OLDR, and control subjects, respectively. The number of subjects with low ANA titers in the OLP and OLDR groups was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.01). Medium ANA titers were found in 15%, 4.4%, and 4.2% of the OLDR, OLP, and control subjects, respectively, while high ANA titers were not found in any group.

The number of serum-ANA-positive OLP and OLDR patients was significantly higher than the control group. Speckled pattern and low titer levels were the most common findings in both OLP and OLDR groups.