Open AccessOral lichen planus - Review on etiopathogenesis
Author(s) -
K Srinivas,
Aravinda Konidena,
P Ratnakar,
Nitin Nigam,
Siddharth Gupta
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
national journal of maxillofacial surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2229-3418
pISSN - 0975-5950
DOI - 10.4103/0975-5950.85847
Subject(s) - medicine , oral lichen planus , disease , degranulation , immunology , pathogenesis , mucocutaneous zone , dermatology , cytotoxic t cell , pathology , receptor , biochemistry , chemistry , in vitro
Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic mucocutaneous disease of uncertain etiopathogenesis. Several factors including stress, genetics, systemic diseases, viruses, dental restorative materials and drugs have been implicated as causative agents. The disease seems to be mediated by an antigen specific mechanism, activating cytotoxic T cells, and non specific mechanisms like mast cell degranulation and matrix metalloproteinase activation. Further clarity on the pathogenesis will aid in modifying therapeutic interventions, thus significantly reducing the morbidity of OLP patients.