General background of patients with oral lichen planus

To examine the general background of patients with oral lichen planus (OLP), 42 patients with OLP were analyzed. Eleven (26.2%) of the 42 patients had a history of blood transfusion. 54.5% of the patients with a history of blood transfusion and 19% of the 42 OLP patients were positive for viral infection with hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or adult T cell leukemia. Moreover, abnomalities of hepatic function were observed in 45.5% of the 11 patients with a history of blood transfusion and 23.8% of all 42 patients. Metal allergy was detected in 14 of the 19 patients with OLP who were tested. Serological examinations, revealed hyperglobulinemia and abnormal complement levels in 64.3% and 57.1%, respectively, of the 42 patients with OLP. These results suggest that OLP might be a symptom of systemic disease associated with immunological abnormality.