VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY- A POSSIBLE CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THE AETIOPATHOGENESIS OF ORAL LICHEN PLANUS

Abstract

BACKGROUND Lichen planus is a chronic autoimmune disease involving skin and mucous membrane. It is believed to represent an abnormal immune response in which epithelial cells are recognised as foreign, secondary to changes in the antigenicity of the cell surface. Certain epidemiological studies are indicative of significant association between vitamin D deficiency and increased incidence of autoimmune diseases. The aim of the present study is to investigate the role of vitamin D in Oral Lichen planus patients and the relationship between serum vitamin D Levels and different clinical forms of Oral lichen planus. MATERIALS AND METHODS A convenience sample of 20 cases who were previously diagnosed as Oral lichen planus patients as per Modified World Health Organisation diagnostic criteria of OLP and OLL (2003), and enrolled in the Department of Oral Medicine & Radiology, were selected. A group of 20 age and sex matched healthy controls were included. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D {[}25(OH) D] Levels were measured by ECLIA (Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay) method in patients and control group. RESULTS Statistically Significant Association (P-value<0.05) of serum vitamin D levels was seen in patients with Oral lichen planus. CONCLUSION The results of our study suggest that Vitamin D levels may have an important role in the aetiopathogenesis of the disease or may be one of the contributory factors that determines the progression and prognosis of the disease, and as such it is needed that a study with a larger sample size may be conducted in order to establish the role of vitamin D in the aetiopathogenesis of Oral Lichen planus.