Clinical Characteristics, Lesion Distribution, and Systemic Comorbidities in Patients With Oral Lichen Planus

This cross-sectional study aimed to comprehensively evaluate clinical forms, anatomical location, symptoms, systemic comorbidities, and potentially relevant factors in patients with oral lichen planus (OLP).

Seventy-two patients with histopathologically confirmed OLP were included. Awareness of the disease, clinical forms, lesion location, and symptoms and their relationships were investigated. Smoking and alcohol consumption, and the presence of adjacent prosthetic or restorative materials were evaluated as potentially relevant factors. The prevalence of systemic diseases was assessed.

The reticular form was the most frequent clinical presentation, followed by plaque-like and erosive forms. Lesions were most commonly localized on the buccal mucosa, followed by the tongue and the gingiva. The reticular form was most frequently observed on the buccal mucosa and tongue (p = 0.001). The combination of the reticular and erosive forms was most frequently observed on the buccal mucosa (p = 0.001), whereas the combination of the reticular and plaque-like forms was more commonly observed on the buccal mucosa and tongue. The erosive form was associated with more prominent symptoms (p = 0.003, p = 0.001). The most frequent systemic comorbidities were hypertension, diabetes, and hypothyroidism. No significant differences were observed in systemic diseases, symptoms, or relevant factors between sexes.

Clinical forms of OLP may coexist within the same patient and, in some cases, within the same lesion. The most common combination was the coexistence of the reticular form with plaque-like or erosive forms. The erosive form is symptomatic. Systemic comorbidities were also commonly observed among patients with OLP, warranting attention during clinical evaluation.