Population-based cohort study to assess the gingival lesions in 1319 patients with lichen planus

Aims Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic immune disease. In this paper, we evaluated the overall characters, clinical presentation, and outcome of gingival lesions in OLP Italian patients. Methods and Results A retrospective cohort study was accomplished: a total of 1319 charts were investigated, of whom 922 were female (69.9%): 617 patients (46.8%) manifested white lesions and 702 red ones (53.2%). While most patients had several oral sites of involvement, the gingiva was the unique location in 103 cases. Symptoms were reported in 480 patients (36.4%): 286 patients with erosive OLP, 103 with atrophic form, and 91 with a white form. Long-lasting surveillance showed that only 40 patients (3.03%) had a total clinical signs remission. Regarding OLP medical treatment provided, patients attending less frequently a dental office underwent more often a specific therapy. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, this is the biggest collections of patients with gingival OLP ever described; exclusive gingival lesions are, however, rare and unlikely to undergo a malignant transformation. Moreover, gum lesions seemed to anticipate the appearance of oral lesions and a higher rate of OLP therapy was observed in patients with less frequent dental check-ups and oral hygiene instructions.

Automated summary

In this study, the overall characteristics, clinical presentation, and outcome of gingival lesions in Italian patients with OLP were evaluated. Gingival lesions were found to be rare and unlikely to undergo malignant transformation. Gum lesions seemed to precede the appearance of oral lesions, and a higher rate of OLP therapy was observed in patients with less frequent dental check-ups and oral hygiene instructions.