Oral lichen planus and thyroid gland diseases: possible associations

Abstract

Abstract Background Lichen planus (LP) is a chronic inflammatory mucocutaneous disease that commonly affects the oral cavity. Previous reports have suggested a possible association between LP and thyroid gland diseases (TGDs). The purpose of this study was to investigate possible associations between oral lichen planus (OLP) and TGDs. Methods Patients diagnosed with OLP, both clinically and histopathologically (N = 102), were classified according to clinical course (symptomatic/asymptomatic), type (reticular/plaque, atrophic and erosive) and location of lesions. Data on TGDs was compared to age- and gender-matched controls (N = 102) without OLP. Diagnosis of any type of TGD and related medication for study and control groups was recorded from the medical files provided by patients’ physicians. Statistical analysis used Student’s t-test and Fisher’s exact test; significance was set at p 0.05). No significant associations were found between different characteristics of OLP and hypothyroidism or other TGD (p > 0.05). Conclusions We found no significant associations between the co-existence of OLP and TGD or related-medications. Our findings are in agreement with some of the previously published similar studies but in controversy with others. Further well-designed, multicenter studies with large groups of patients and controls may help to establish the nature of the associations between OLP and TGDs.

Keywords

• Auto-immune disease
• Oral lichen planus
• Thyroid gland diseases