Probable Association Between Oral Lichen Planus and presence of Helicobacter Pylori: a Preliminary Study in a Chilean Population / Probable Asociación entre Liquen plano Oral y la presencia de Helicobacter pylori: estudio Preliminar en Chile

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.

The presence of Helicobacter pylori in oral cavities of patients with leukoplakia and oral lichen planus

ABSTRACT Objective Helicobacter pylori infection is one of the most common bacterial infections in men. This gastrointestinal pathogen is closely related to gastritis, peptic ulcers, and the increased risk of gastric cancer. Numerous studies have indicated oral cavities as possible Helicobacter pylori reservoirs. Helicobacter pylori has been detected both in supragingival and subgingival plaques, and also in saliva. In addition, the relationship between lesions of oral mucosa and the presence of H. pylori has been evaluated and described in some studies. The aim of this study was to assess the presence of Helicobacter pylori DNA in the oral cavity of patients with oral leukoplakia and oral lichen planus. Material and Methods The study included 54 patients with oral leukoplakia, 72 with oral lichen planus lesions, and 40 healthy controls. The presence of Helicobacter pylori in oral cavity samples was analyzed using a single-step Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method. All patients underwent a periodontal examination and the following clinical parameters were collected: pocket depth, bleeding, and plaque indexes. The periodontal status was assessed using the Offenbacher classification. Results In most patients, pathological lesions were in typical sites on the buccal mucosa (leukoplakia in 88%, and oral lichen planus in 93% of patients). The DNA of the Helicobacter pylori was present in 20% of patients with leukoplakia and 23% of patients with lichen planus. We did not find the DNA of H. pylori in healthy controls. The periodontal status described by periodontal indices was worse in the investigated group than in the control group. Conclusion These findings suggest that the H. pylori presence in oral cavities may be related with leukoplakia and lichen planus oral lesions.