Alterations of serum lipid profile patterns in oral lichen planus patients: A case–control study

Abstract

Background:Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic disease of established immune-mediated pathogenesis. It most commonly, protractedly, and persistently involves the mucosa of the oral cavity. Antigen-specific and nonspecific mechanisms play a role in its pathogenesis, leading to T-cell accumulation in superficial lamina propria, intraepithelial T-cell migration, and keratinocyte apoptosis in OLP. Previous studies have indicated the possibility of serum lipid derangement in chronic inflammatory diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus and psoriasis, which in turn results in elevated cardiovascular disease risk. Inflammation causes disturbances in lipid metabolism such as decrease in high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and increase in very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)-cholesterol and hypertriglyceridemia due to direct effect on T-cell responses. Prolonged dyslipidemia, due to chronic inflammatory condition, enhances the formation of atherosclerotic plaques and thereby augments the risk of cardiovascular disease in such patients. With this background, a possible correlation between OLP and serum lipid level derangement can be anticipated. Hence, this study was taken up to probe into an association between the two.Aims:To determine and compare the serum lipid levels in OLP patients and healthy controls, to inquire into the possible association of OLP with alterations in serum lipid profile patterns, and to determine if the clinical characteristics of OLP differed with alterations in serum lipid profile patterns.Subjects and Methods:Sixty patients comprising 30 cases and 30 controls were enrolled for the study. Thirty cases of clinically and pathologically diagnosed OLP and 30 age- and sex-matched controls were subjected to blood examination for the assessment of serum lipid level, i.e., HDL, LDL, VLDL, and triglyceride. The obtained data were compared with standard values to assess any alterations of the serum lipid levels.Statistical Analysis Used:Cramer's V-test was performed for all the tests to measure association between two nominal variables. A P ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results:Dyslipidemia was observed in 13 (46.67%) cases as against 7 (23.33%) controls. Thus, a significant number of cases were found to have an associated serum dyslipidemia. However, pertaining to individual serum lipid levels in cases and controls, the association was found to be statistically insignificant.Conclusions:The current study suggested an evident association between dyslipidemia and OLP. We recommend imminent studies on a larger population to additionally substantiate a positive association between the two.

Oral lichen planus and associated comorbidities: An approach to holistic health

“…A study by Dreiher et al demonstrated that a majority of patients with OLP presented with dyslipidemia. [9] Studies by Arias-Santiago et al [25] and Aniyan et al [26] demonstrated a higher prevalence of dyslipidemia in both skin and oral LP patients. Chronic inflammatory components result in uncontrolled dyslipidemia, and thus, augment the atherosclerotic plaque formation and other predisposing factors for cardiovascular diseases [Table 5].…”

Potential relationship of dyslipidemia with dietary patterns in oral lichen planus patients-A case-control study

“…Of these, two showed a correlation between OLP and dyslipidemia, suggesting that OLP may interact with the metabolic state of the body, 11 , 12 while the other study showed the opposite result. 13 …”

High serum level of interleukin‑6 is linked with dyslipidemia in oral lichen planus

“…OLP is the most frequent mucosal involvement of a chronic inflammatory muco-cutaneous disease. Recent studies emphasize the association between LP, dyslipidemia, systemic inflammation and cardiovascular risk ( 11 , 13 , 14 , 25-28 ). Alterations in serum plasma lipid profile occur normally during inflammatory processes in order to annihilate the toxicity of causative agents and promote tissue repair ( 16 , 17 ).…”

“…Alterations in serum plasma lipid profile occur normally during inflammatory processes in order to annihilate the toxicity of causative agents and promote tissue repair ( 16 , 17 ). Although LP etiology and pathogenesis are still not completely understood, current scientific data support the hypothesis of T cell-mediated disease in which proinflammatory cytokines [e.g., tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10] secreted by various cells including activated keratinocytes and cytotoxic CD8 + T cells, participate in perpetuating and persistence of inflammation ( 11 ). Recent research regarding cardiovascular risk in psoriasis suggests that chronic inflammation may be considered a component of the metabolic syndrome in which activation of type 1 T helper cells is present.…”

“…Previous reports have focused on the association between LP and alterations in lipid metabolism ( 11-14 ), concluding that it may also be associated with a high risk of cardiovascular morbidities ( 15 ). Systemic inflammation leads to lipid metabolism disturbances resulting in a redistribution of different nutrients to cells involved in host defense in order to ensure detoxification and tissue repair ( 16 ).…”