Cardiovascular risk factors in patients of lichen planus

Introduction
Lichen planus is a chronic inflammatory disorder in which a delayed type of hypersensitivity immune reaction plays a major role in the pathogenesis. The disease and mainly affects skin, mucous membranes, nails and hair follicles.

Objective
To study cardiovascular risk factors (metabolic syndrome and lipid profile) in patients of lichen planus.

Material and methods
Fifty patients of lichen planus aged 18 years or above and fifty age- and sex-matched controls without any evidence of skin disorder including lichen planus were enrolled. Atherosclerotic risk factors were evaluated as per National Cholesterol Education Project Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATPIII). Metabolic syndrome was defined as per the definition of the South Asian Modified criteria of NCEP-ATPIII11.

Results
The mean total cholesterol was 179.2 ±29.74 and 164.74 ±22.18 mg/dl in lichen planus patients and controls, respectively, and the difference was found to be significant (p = 0.006). A significant difference between patients and controls was also found for low-density lipoprotein (p = 0.001). Although all atherosclerotic factors were elevated in patients compared to controls, the difference was statistically significant only for body mass index (p = 0.003989).

Conclusions
The present study found a higher prevalence of dyslipidemia with a significant association between lichen planus and higher total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein lipids. Body mass index, blood pressure and blood glucose were also higher in patients with lichen planus.