Evaluation of the Distribution of Candida Species in Patients with Dysplastic and Nondysplastic Oral Lichen Planus Lesions

OBJECTIVES: This study is aimed at identifying and determining the distribution of isolated Candida species in patients with dysplastic and nondysplastic oral lichen planus (OLP) lesions in comparison with those of healthy controls. Material and Methods. This study includes patients with OLP, aged (more than 18 years old), who have had informed consent. Samples of the oral, tongue, and buccal mucus by rubbing with a sterile swab and sterilely next to the lamp flame. Demographic information was obtained using patient records to determine the species of Candida in both groups, and two tests of fertile tube production by Candida albicans and dye production in the dye medium were used. A biopsy from OLP lesions has been taken from each patient after swab sampling and was sent to the pathology department for further histopathological analysis. In the end p value, less than 0/05 was considered significant. RESULT: In this study, 40 lichen planus patients were compared with 32 control patients. The female/male ratio in OLP and healthy groups was 22/18 and 17/15, respectively. Among the OLP patients, 23 cases (56%) were dysplastic, and the other 17 (44%) patients were nondysplastic. The mean (±standard deviation (SD)) age of patients was 48.83 (±9.34) years, and the mean age of the control group was 40.21 (±10.32). There were no significant differences based on age (p > 0.05). The highest frequency was related to tongue in both groups (22 (55%)) and buccal mucosa was the least common. There was a significant relationship between the location of the lesion and OLP (p = 0.05). 18 (45%) were erosive, and 22 (55%) were nonerosive. However, no significant difference was observed between erosive and nonerosive types in the OLP group (p = 0/07). Regarding the type of Candida, all cases in the patient's group were related to Candida albicans [40 (100%)], and the correlation was not found in this regard (p > 0/05). About colony count, the mean for the case and control groups was 26.68 and 23.25, respectively. Also, no significant relationship was found between colony count and groups in this study (p = 0.3). There was no significant difference between gender and dysplastic or nondysplastic (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: According to the statistical studies performed in this study, the presence of Candida in patients with dysplastic and nondysplastic lichen planus is not significantly different, and this rate is not higher than healthy individuals and in cases where the results are positive. The predominant species of Candida is the Candida albicans. In this study, the highest frequency was related to tongue in both groups. There was only a significant relationship between the location of the lesion and OLP.