Inflammatory Markers and Dyslipidemia in Patients with Oral Lichen Planus: A Case–Control Study

TL;DR

This study found that oral lichen planus is linked to lipid-modifying drugs and certain inflammatory markers, but not directly to dyslipidemia.

Contribution

The study identifies associations between oral lichen planus and lipid-modifying agents, along with specific systemic inflammation indices.

Findings

OLP patients had higher dyslipidemia prevalence compared to controls.

Lipid-modifying agent users with OLP were three times more likely to have the condition.

Inflammation markers like PIV were elevated in OLP patients, especially those who drank alcohol.

Abstract

Background: Lichen planus is a chronic inflammatory disease of multifactorial origin. Objective: The aim of study was to evaluate biomarker parameters of inflammation and dyslipidemia in oral lichen planus (OLP). Methods: Patients diagnosed clinically and histopathologically with OLP and health controls were matched by age and gender. In both groups, lipid and inflammatory parameter profiles were collected through blood tests. Univariate and multivariate regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between dyslipidemia criteria and lipid-modifying agents and OLP adjusted for sex, age, tobacco use, and alcohol consumption. Results: The study included 252 subjects. The prevalence of dyslipidemia was 92 (73.02%) in OLP patients and 75 (59.52%) in the control group, with statistically significant differences [Odds Ratio (OR): 1.84 Confidence interval (CI) (1.08–3.12); p = 0.024)], while for lipid-modifying agent users it was 45 (35.71%) and 18 (14.29%), respectively [OR: 3.33 (1.79–6.18); p = 0.000)]. Drinkers with OLP had higher inflammatory response in the systemic immune–inflammation index (p = 0.013), systemic inflammation response index (p = 0.015), and pan-immune inflammation value (PIV) (p = 0.011). PIV was found to be higher in oral forms than in extraoral forms (p = 0.036). Multivariate analysis showed that patients being treated with lipid-modifying agents were three times more likely to be suffering from OLP (OR: 3.05;CI: 1.57–6.12, p = 0.001). Conclusions: The multivariate study showed that OLP is associated with lipid-modifying agents and not with dyslipidemia. The study included lipid inflammation markers that provide data on the behavior of OLP; however, the suggested inflammatory biomarkers do not offer a diagnostic alternative.

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