What is the cause of oral lichen planus?
The precise cause of oral lichen planus is unknown. It appears to be an autoimmune disease in which cells called CD8+ T lymphocytes, and chemical mediators such as the cytokine TNF, attack the oral epithelial cells resulting in their death. In most cases the disease appears unexpectedly and is called idiopathic oral lichen planus. In other cases it may be precipitated by the following: • Drugs i.e. lichenoid drug reaction. This is most often due to gold therapy. Other medications include some antibiotics, non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, drugs used for treating hypertension, heart disease and high lipids. These drugs more commonly cause a skin eruption with the mouth being affected less often. • Contact allergens in dental restorative materials or toothpastes. These may be identified by careful patch testing • Mechanical trauma • Viral infection, particularly Hepatitis C Oral lichenoid lesions are also part of the spectrum of chronic graft-versus-host disease that occurs after bo
The precise cause of oral lichen planus is unknown. It appears to be an autoimmune disease in which cells called CD8+ T lymphocytes, and chemical mediators such as the cytokine TNF, attack the oral epithelial cells resulting in their death. In most cases the disease appears unexpectedly and is called idiopathic oral lichen planus. In other cases it may be precipitated by the following: • Drugs i.e., oral lichenoid drug reaction. This is most often due to gold therapy. Other medications include some antibiotics, non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, drugs used for treating hypertension, heart disease and high lipids. These drugs more commonly cause a skin eruption with the mouth being affected less often. • Contact allergens in dental restorative materials or toothpastes. These may be identified by careful patch testing • Mechanical trauma • Viral infection, particularly Hepatitis C Oral lichenoid lesions are also part of the spectrum of chronic graft-versus-host disease that occurs af
