An association between oral lichen planus and a persistently dry mouth

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between oral lichen planus and dry mouth by comparing xerostomia scores of individuals with oral lichen planus to those of healthy matched controls.

Study design: Patients who had attended 1 of 2 centers for the management of oral lichen planus (n=116), along with age- and sex-matched control subjects (n=348), were sent a questionnaire. Nonresponders were invited to complete the questionnaire by telephone in lieu of mailing a reply. A standardized medical history was obtained for all subjects.

Results: The difference between patients with oral lichen planus and control subjects for all xerostomia questions was statistically significant. In the lichen planus group, the mean xerostomia score was 20.4, whereas for control patients, the mean score was 14.7 (P <.001). Stepwise conditional logistic regression analysis for the matched case-control groups was performed.

Conclusion: The results demonstrate an association between oral lichen planus and xerostomia in some individuals.