Upper gastrointestinal findings in oral lichen planus.
OBJECTIVE
Lichen planus is an inflammatory disease of the skin and mucous membranes. Oral mucosa is known to be frequently affected by the disease, but it has also been observed that gastrointestinal mucosas are sometimes involved.


METHODS
In this study, the upper gastrointestinal tract was investigated endoscopically and histopathologically in 20 patients with oral lichen planus.


RESULTS
Endoscopy determined antral gastritis in seven patients, esophagitis in four, bulbitis in three, chronic duodenal ulcer in one and esophageal sphincter dysfunction in one patient. Lichen planus-like changes on the esophageal mucosa at histopathological examination were found in one patient. Findings in the other patients were as follows: chronic atrophic gastritis (nine), helicobacter pylori infection (nine), esophagitis (two), bulbitis (two) and erosive gastritis (one).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with Lichen planus should be evaluated for possible gastro-intestinal involvement with endoscop.
Sanli
Hatice
H
Ankara University School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology.
Cetinkaya
Hülya
H
Türsen
Umit
U
Kaya
Muhsin
M
Kuzu
Işinsu
I
Gürler
Aysel
A