Azaz Uddin Ahmed Sane1, Md. Akhtar-Uz-Zaman2, Tanusree Sarkar3
Khaled Ahmad4, Mahfuza Maliha5
1. Senior Lecturer, Department of Community Medicine & Public health, North East Medical College, Sylhet.
2. Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine & Public health, North East Medical College, Sylhet.
3. Professor (CC) and Head, Department of Community Medicine & Public health, North East Medical College, Sylhet.
4. Professor (CC), Department of Otolaryngology and Head -Neck Surgery, North East Medical College, Sylhet.
5. Lecturer, Department of Forensic Medicine, North East Medical College, Sylhet.
Introduction
Lichen planus (LP) is derived from the Greek word leichen, meaning tree moss, and the Latin word planus, meaning flat.1 It is a chronic inflammatory condition that can affect the skin, mucous membranes, and nails. The prevalence of lichen planus in the general population is estimated to range from 0.5% to 2.6%.2 Although the exact etiology of this disease remains unclear, several factors are believed to contribute to its pathogenesis.
Lichen planus is considered a T-cell-mediated autoimmune disorder. In this condition, auto-cytotoxic CD8+ T cells play a central role by triggering the apoptosis of basal cells in the oral epithelium. These T cells recognize antigens presented by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-I on keratinocytes. Activated CD4+ lymphocytes, in turn, promote the accumulation of Langerhans cells and upregulate MHC-II expression, which enhances antigen recognition. The activated CD8+ T cells release cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)- and granzyme B, which lead to the apoptosis of basal keratinocytes. This disruption in the epithelium attracts additional lymphocytes into the developing lesion, further exacerbating the inflammatory process.3
This case study presents a patient diagnosed with symptomatic oral lichen planus, who demonstrated significant improvement following treatment.
Key Words: Oral, Licken Planus, Retricular Type