Survay of association between clinical types of oral lichen planus with serum level of Zinc and comparision with healthy

Abstract

Lichen planus is an immunologic inflammatory chronic disease involving skin and mucosa, varying from keratotic and reticular or plaque-like to erythematose and ulcerative types. Many etiologic factors are considered for this disease with immune system disorders and the role of cytotoxic T lymphocytes and monocytes being prominent. Zinc is an important element for the growth and development of epithelium, and its deficiency leads to reduced activity of thymoline and decreased IL-2 secretion, resulting in an imbalance among T helpers. With a reduce in number of Th1, the immune system seeks to compensate this with increasing Th2, and this increase in the cytotoxic activity of Th2 seems to be associated with lichen planus. This study was designed to evaluate the levels of serum zinc in ulcerative and non ulcerative OLP as well as in healthy control group. Materials and methods: The present study evaluated 22 patients with erosive OLP, 22 patients with non erosive OLP and 9 healthy individuals as control group. Patients and control groups were selected from those referred to dental clinical. Serum zinc level tests were performed for all subjects with liqui-stat kit. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods, ANOVA and Tukey with SPSS 16 statistical software. Results: the means zinc serum levels in the erosive and non erosive lichen planus groups and control groups were 8.3, 11.15 and 15.74 respectively. This difference was significant. Conclusion: decreased serum zinc levels in patients with oral lichen planus especially erosive lesions; could shown the role of zinc in development of oral lichen planus.