Probable Association Between Oral Lichen Planus and presence of Helicobacter Pylori: a Preliminary Study in a Chilean Population

Araneda, Sebastián; Castillo, Christian; Venegas, Bernardo; Kemmerling, Ulrike

ABSTRACT:

Oral Lichen planus (OLP) is one of the main inflammatory diseases of the oral mucosa that is considered as a potentially malignant disorder. The exact pathogenesis of OLP remains to be completely understood. However, presence of bacteria has been associated to the inflammatory response observed in OLP. Particularly, Helicobacter pylori a major etiological agent of gastrointestinal inflammatory diseases and risk factor for gastric cancer, has been associated to Lichen planus. Here we studied a group of Chilean patients if there is any association between the presence of Helicobacter pylori and the clinical manifestation of OLP. We found a significant difference between the patients positive for H. pylori and the age of OLP diagnosis, suggesting that oral H. pylori might induce the disease at an earlier age. However, we could not confirm a statistically significance between the presence of the bacteria and OLP.

RESUMEN:

Liquen Plano Oral (LPO) es una enfermedad inflamatoria de la mucosa oral considerada como desorden potencialmente maligno. La patogénesis exacta de LPO es desconocida. Sin embargo, se ha asociado la presencia de bacterias como responsables de la inflamación observada en LPO. Particularmente, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), agente etiológico principal de enfermedades inflamatorias gastrointestinales y factor de riesgo de cáncer gástrico, ha sido asociado con LPO. Se estudió la posible asociación entre H. pylori y manifestaciones clínicas de LPO en un grupo de pacientes Chilenos. Se encontró diferencia significativa entre los pacientes positivos para H. pylori y la edad de diagnóstico de LPO, sugiriendo que H. pylori podría inducir la enfermedad a temprana edad. Sin embargo, no se pudo confirmar significancia estadística entre la presencia de esta bacteria y la presencia de displasia en LPO.