Is lichen planus-associated desquamative gingivitis associated with chronic comorbidities?

Introduction
Desquamative gingivitis is a symptom of a variety of diseases and disorders, such as oral lichen planus, pemphigus, erythaema multiforme, pemphigoid, chronic ulcerative stomatitis, and lupus erythematosus. It can occur as one of many symptoms of chronic dermatoses, infectious diseases, hormonal disorders, chronic irritation, or idiopathically.

Objective
To assess the incidence of desquamative gingivitis in the process of oral lichen planus and a possible correlation between desquamative gingivitis and the coexistence of chronic systemic diseases.

Material and methods
The study included 90 patients. Participants’ eligibility criteria were the diagnosis of oral lichen planus on the basis of clinical examination and histopathological examination of lesions.

Results and conclusions
The study included 90 patients. Sixty-nine patients were women and 21 were men. Among the female patients suffering from desquamative gingivitis (21 patients), the following general diseases were observed: diabetes type 2, hypertension, hypothyroidism. In 48 women with oral lichen planus, but no desquamative gingivitis following general diseases were observed: hypertension, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, diabetes type II, glaucoma, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. Among men who were examined with desquamative gingivitis (4 patients), no general diseases were reported. Among patients without desquamative gingivitis (22 patients), the following general diseases were present: hypertension, diabetes type 2, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. The incidence of desquamative gingivitis in the course of oral lichen planus in the examined group was 26%. The lesions were more common in women than in men, and they were associated with a predisposition to female gender. There was no correlation between the coexistence of chronic general diseases and the occurrence of desquamative gingivitis in either group.