Treatment of Oral Erosive Lichen Planus. Role of T Cell

Objectives:The aim of this study was to study the effect of azathioprine in treatment of OLP and to study the changes in the peripheral blood lymphocytes subpopulations (CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+) in these patients. Method: Ten patients with erosive OLP were included in the study with a mean age of 40 years. All patients were treated with azathioprine (Imuran) 50mg. twice daily for two months. Complete hemograms with platelet counts, liver and renal function tests were done before treatment and every four weeks after treatment. Clinical assessment was done by assessing the level of pain relief and the presence of oral ulceration. Blood samples were taken from all patients to assess lymphocyte subpopulations including CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ with flow cytometry before and after treatment. Results: Eight patients, had an excellent response as regards pain and ulcer resolution after treatment, they reported resolution of pain by 10-15 days and had total clinical resolution of oral ulceration after 25-30 days. There was a significant difference of all measured T-cell subsets (CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+) before and after treatment with azathioprine. Conclusion: These findings suggest that azathioprine may be an alternative, more tolerable therapy in patients with erosive OLP who needs systemic treatment.