The Relationship between Lichen Planus and Carotid Intima Media Thickness

Lichen planus (LP) is a chronic inflammatory disease. Although the association between chronic inflammation and subclinical atherosclerosis has been reported in the literature, the relationship between LP and carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) has not been previously investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between LP and CIMT.

One hundred eleven LP patients and 105 controls were enrolled in the study. Then, CIMT examination was performed with an ultrasonography device. Cross-sectional associations of LP with CIMT were analyzed using linear regression models adjusted for related confounders.

No statistical difference was found between LP and the controls except for the female gender, white blood cell, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides (p = 0.046, p = 0.019, p = 0.011 and p = 0.013, respectively). Significant difference was found between the groups in terms of CIMT (0.90 ± 0.2 mm vs. 0.61 ± 0.3 mm, p = 0.001). CIMT was correlated with longevity of the LP, but we did not find LP to be an independent predictor of increased CIMT in logistic regression analysis (r = 0.449, p < 0.001, β = -0.117, p = 0.092; respectively).

The results of our study suggested that LP was associated with increased mean CIMT, and furthermore that CIMT was correlated with longevity of LP. However, LP was not an independent predictor of increased CIMT.