title: A clinical study on oral lichen planus with special emphasis on hyperpigmentation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a unique disorder affecting generally the older age group. Numerous studies have been done on various aspects of OLP such as pathogenesis, rate of malignant transformation, etc. However, very few studies are available with respect to clinical features especially association of hyperpigmentation and OLP. This study aims at studying the clinical aspects of OLP and study the association between hyperpigmentation and OLP in a south Indian population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 58 patients with OLP who attended the outpatient department of our institution were included in the study and a complete history, followed by thorough intraoral examination was done. All the data were recorded and assessed for statistical analysis using SPSS software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that the male to female ratio affected with OLP was 1:1 and the most common form of OLP that was seen was the reticular subtype. Also, buccal mucosa was the most common affected site and more than 60% patients had hyperpigmentation associated with the site affected by OLP. We found a statistically significant relation between the reticular type of OLP and the older age group (51-70 years) with hyperpigmentation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although further studies are required to say anything conclusively, post-inflammatory changes occurring the mucosa due to OLP could be a cause for hyperpigmentation in the sites affected.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, SIBAR Institute of Dental Sciences, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Ravi Teja
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Chitturi
authors.affiliation: Consultant Oral Pathologist, G.D Karthik Hospital, Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Pandian
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sindhuja
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, Pushpagiri Dental College, Thiruvalla, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: R Arjun
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Parameswar
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, Rajah Muthiah Dental College and Hospital, Annamalai Nagar, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Ramdas Madhavan
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Nirmal
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, SIBAR Institute of Dental Sciences, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: B Venkat Ramana
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, Vivekanandha Dental College for Women, Tiruchengode, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Janardhanam
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dineshshankar
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, Vivekanandha Dental College for Women, Tiruchengode, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Thukanayakanpalayam Ragunathan
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Yoithapprabhunath
keywords: Clinical features; hyperpigmentation; inflammatory disorder; oral lichen planus; postinflammatory changes