Predictors of symptomatic oral lichen planus

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and the factors associated with symptomatic oral lichen planus (OLP).

Study design: Patients with OLP seen for an initial visit were assessed retrospectively. Initial visit data included demographic characteristics; social, medical, and OLP treatment histories; medications; chief complaints, 0 to 10 pain level; OLP duration and symptoms; OLP type and location; total OLP lesion size (mm²); total ulcer size (mm²); and fungal infection and its management. Follow-up data included 0 to 10 pain level and total lesion and ulcer sizes.

Results: We assessed 205 patients: 154 (75%) were women, and the mean (standard deviation [SD]) age was 62.5 (11.5) years. The mean (SD) current pain level was 1.6 (2.2) at the initial visit. A total of 125 patients (61%) were classified as symptomatic, including 85 (41%) patients reporting a pain level of 1 or greater and another 40 patients (20%) who had symptoms not described as pain at the initial visit. The following increased the odds of OLP symptoms at the initial visit: tongue location (× 2.3), erosive/erythematous type (× 2.3), female sex (× 2.9), topical steroid use before initial visit (× 2.1), and number of medical conditions (× 1.2).

Conclusions: Most patients with OLP in the present cohort were symptomatic at the initial visit, with location, type, sex, steroid use and medical conditions being predictors of symptomatic OLP. Despite improvement in OLP symptoms in most patients over time, 25% of patients who are asymptomatic at the initial visit present with symptomatic OLP at a future visit.