THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE ORAL LICHEN PLANUS AND ENDOCRINE HORMONES: A REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Today, the Oral Lichen Planus (OLP) is known as an autoimmune mucocutaneous disease with a chronic inflammatory course that involves oral mucosa. Etiology and pathogenesis of this disease has not been properly understood. Among the possible cases are systemic drugs, dental materials, chronic liver diseases, hepatitis, genetics, tobacco chewing, psychological stress and some hormones. An extensive review was conducted on scientific resources to provide a comprehensive overview of the relationship between OLP and different hormones. This was done by searching PubMed, Ovid, and Google Scholar in December 2017 and January 2018 by reviewing 29 English-language articles published between 1990 and 2017, in which the keyword searches selected in the Mesh included Lichen Planus, Steroid hormones, thyroid hormones, and diabetes mellitus. According to the literature review, oral lichen planus is associated with thyroid hormones, corticosteroids and diabetes mellitus, but it is more evident in corticosteroids. Thyroid hormones have also been associated with hypothyroidism, but more studies are needed to prove it. Generally speaking, it seems that the study of hormonal profiles in patients with oral lichen planus lesions is significantly important. Therefore, the study of endocrine status in patients with lichen planus is recommended.