Abstract

BERMEJO-FENOLL, Ambrosio  and  LOPEZ-JORNET, Pía. Oral lichen planus: Character, clinical aspects and treatment. RCOE [online]. 2004, vol.9, n.4, pp.395-408. ISSN 1138-123X.

Oral lichen planus is a chronic inflammatory mucocutaneous disease, of the skin, hair and nails and mucous tissue that develops with periodic outbreaks. It affects 0,2-1,9% of the population. Although of unknown aetiology, its pathogenesisi ncludes an immune disorder, with the epithelial tissue being attacked by lymphocytes CDB. It can be associated with other autoimmune diseases and hepatitis C. From a clinical aspect, papular and reticular lesions are noticeably dynamic and usually alternate with areas of eritema and atrophy. The asymptomatic lesions which are predominantly white can be distinguished from the predominantly red lesions that cause a stinging sensation: It is not uncommon to find both forms in the same patient during the evolution of the disease. The following complications can arise during the illness: erosions by agents external to the mucous tissue, drug-induced erosive crises, superficial mucoceles, additional infections, synechiae and scars, leukoplakias and squamous cell carcinoma. The diagnosis is clinical and pathological and the treatment based on antiinflammatory therapy with topical corticoids and/or systemic corticoids during active phases, preventive action against complications and patient information with periodical follow-up of the disease.

Keywords : Oral lichen planus; Etiopathogenesis; Clinical features; Treatment.

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