RESUMEN
Statement of Problem: Lichen planus [LP] is a chronic disease that affects skin and mucous membranes. Lesions of oral lichen planus [OLP] can persist for a long time. Varying prevalence rates of oral lichen planus have been reported in different parts of the world, while information regarding the epidemiology of this disease in Iran is incomplete
Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate the characteristics of oral lichen planus in a group of Iranian patients and compare the results with similar conducted studies in other populations
Materials and Method: In this descriptive study data were collected from charts of 158 patients In Kerman, Iran [1997-2005] over 8 consecutive years. For each patient, age at presentation, gender, chief complaint, duration of chief compliant, previous treatment, current medications, skin involvement and a complete medical history has been recorded. A number of possible etiologic factors and possible presence of diabetes or liver disease also analyzed. Laboratory evaluations consisted of glucose tolerance test [GTT] and liver function tests [LFT]. This data were analyzed by SPSS version 12 statistical software
Results: The mean age of study population was 41.16 years. Subjects were predominantly female [65.1%]. Liver function tests [LFT] were abnormal in 19.6% of cases. Disturbance of glucose metabolism and fasting blood sugar was also higher than normal limit in10.8% and 2.9% of cases respectively. Atrophicerosive lesions were found in 17 of the cases. In 50 patients the lesions were exclusively keratotic and in 91 the lesions were atrophic-erosive and keratotic. Most oral lesions were multifocal [88.6%], with the buccal mucosa being the most common location in each clinical form [87.3%]. Duration of oral lesions ranged from 0.4 to 20 years with a mean of 1.54 year
Conclusion: This study showed that epidemiological and clinical features of the disease in Kerman are similar to those mentioned in literature. Also, in this study LFT and GTT were abnormal in 19.6% and 10.8% respectively