Thyroid Disease and Oral Lichen Planus as Comorbidity: A Prospective Case-Control Study

Area of Science:

• Oral Medicine
• Endocrinology
• Dermatology

Background:

• Emerging evidence suggests a potential link between thyroid disorders and the development of oral lichen planus (OLP).
• Thyroid disease is a prevalent condition globally, necessitating investigation into its association with OLP.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether thyroid disease represents a significant comorbidity in patients diagnosed with OLP.
• To evaluate the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction among individuals with OLP.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 215 patients with diagnosed OLP underwent assessment of serum thyroid-stimulating hormone and thyroxine (T4) levels.
• Results were compared against a control group of 215 age- and sex-matched individuals.

Main Results:

• Thyroid disease was diagnosed in 15.3% of OLP patients versus 5.2% in the control group.
• The odds ratio for thyroid disorders in OLP patients was 3.06, and for levothyroxine medication use, it was 3.21.

Conclusions:

• Oral lichen planus (OLP) patients exhibit a significant association with thyroid disease, specifically hypothyroidism.
• The findings support the classification of OLP and thyroid disease as comorbidities, highlighting the importance of T4 treatment considerations.