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All articles / Orofacial Medicine and Pathology

Oral Lichen Planus (OLP)

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting the oral mucosa, impacting about 1% of the population, mainly women over 55. Symptoms range from white changes to sores and pain. Diagnosis is through clinical and histopathological examination.

Author: Jairo Robledo-Sierra • DDS • Department of Oral Medicine • Gothenburg
Reviewed by: Vegard Garsjö • Dental Specialist • Specialist clinic of Orofacial Medicine • Gothenburg
5 min read
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    This article is based on an original article in Swedish which can be found here

    BACKGROUND

    Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a relatively common chronic autoimmune disease that affects the oral mucosa.

    OLP is part of the family of lichenoid tissue reactions, along with lichenoid contact reactions, lichenoid drug reactions, and graft-versus-host disease.

    PREVALENCE

    The prevalence of OLP in the Swedish population is approximately 1%.
    The average age is 55 years, and 65% of the patients are women.

    ETIOLOGY

    The etiology behind OLP is unknown. The pathogenesis involves the cellular arm of the immune system, which is reflected in the subepithelial infiltrate that characterizes the disease and is dominated by T-lymphocytes.

    It is likely that there is not a specific autoantigen that triggers the autoimmune reaction, but it may vary from individual to individual.

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