CANDIDA SPP. INFECTION IN ORAL LICHEN PLANUS AND LICHENOIDS LESIONS

Candida and human papiloma virus (HPV) infection in patients with oral lichen planus (LP) and lichenoid lesions (LL) is a frequent complication that may influence their course. OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of candida and HPV infections in patients with LP and LL; and to correlate with the presence of other risk factors. Patients and methods: Patients diagnosed with LP and LL (SG: study group) were compared with a control group (CG) with no oral lesions, paired by age and sex. Clinical records were completed, including consumption of tobacco, alcohol and mate. Samples for mycological examination were taken, Gram stain was used for direct examination; the material was cultured in Sabouraud dextrose (ASG-Britania, Argentina), incubated at 37°C for 48 hours, after which CFU/mL counts were determined. The Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technique was used to study HPV. Chi-square and correlation Pearson test were applied. Results: Sixteen patients, average age 65 years (range 33-89) were studied. In the SG, there was a predominance of elderly women, with a family history of hypertension. There were 8 patients with LP and 8 with LL in the SG: 12 (75%) were female; 37% smokers, 44% consumed alcoholic beverages, and 56% were mate drinkers; only five patients consumed more than one of the studied substances. The direct mycological analysis was positive in 100% of samples of both groups, and yeasts predominated over hyphae. The positive cultures predominated in the SG, with an OR of 7.7 (CI 1.46-40.63) p= 0.02. In the SG, two patients were HPV positive (genotype 6), while all the individuals in the CG were negative. Patients in both groups had a varied diet.  Conclusions: The high prevalence of candida and HPV infection in patients with oral lichen and lichenoid lesions reveals the importance of analyzing the role of these infections in lesions with potential malignant transformation