Oral Lichen Planus

Abstract

Lichen planus (LP) is a chronic, inflammatory, mucocutaneous, immune-mediated condition with variable clinical presentations. Oral lichen planus (OLP) is the oral variant and affects about 1–2% of the general adult population with characteristic relapses and remissions. OLP is about twice as common in females as in males. The most commonly involved oral sites are the buccal mucosa, lateral surfaces of the tongue, and gingivae, respectively. Six clinical patterns of OLP are described in literature: reticular, plaque-like, erythematous, erosive/ulcerative, papular, and bullous. Helper and cytotoxic T lymphocytes, in addition to antigen-presenting cells, represent the key cells in the inflammat..