Impact of Altered Lipid Profile in Oral Lichen Planus

Background:Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the oral mucosa. This disorder has been suggested to be related to an impairment of lipid metabolism and profile. A number of studies indicate a higher incidence of dyslipidemia in OLP patients compared to not-affected individuals. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the correlations between lipid profile alterations and clinical features of oral lichen planus. Patients and methods:A total of 52 patients diagnosed with OLP were enrolled in this study. Data regarding the demography, symptoms, severity of lesions assesed by Thongprasom score and lipid profile status were collected from the medical charts. The study group was divided into two sub-cohorts: Group 1, which included OLP patients with lipid profile within the normal range, and Group 2 comprising OLP patients with alterations of the lipid status. Results:The comparative analysis between the two groups found a statistically significant association between the lipid profile and OLP symptoms. Thus, the most frequent symptom was pain, in OLP patients with normal lipid status (Group 1), and burning, in those with altered lipid status (Group 2) (p=0.050). Moreover, the presence of symptoms was reported by a higher percentage of patients from Group 2 (75%) than Group 1 (68.25%). Patients reporting burning symptomatology showed higher triglyceride levels than those who reported pain (p=0.032). Furthermore, we found that male OLP patients have higher levels of LDL compared with female subjects (p=0.021). Conclusion:Lipid profile changes are not associated with an increased severity of OLP lesions. A statistically significant association was found between burning sensation and higher lipid profile parameters.