Work

Salivary iron and Candida colonization in oral lichen planus patients undergoing topical steroid therapy

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The most common adverse event in oral lichen planus (OLP) patients undergoing topical corticosteroid therapy is opportunistic infection with oral Candida. Oral candidiasis superimposed on OLP can worsen the patient's symptoms and obscure the true clinical appearance making the treatment of OLP more complex and difficult. The aim of this study was to investigate the salivary iron level in OLP patients undergoing topical steroid therapy with a history of oral candidiasis compared with OLP patients undergoing topical steroid therapy without a history of oral candidiasis and healthy individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 68 OLP patients treated with a topical steroid were divided into 34 OLP patients with a history of oral candidiasis, 34 OLP patients without a history of oral candidiasis and 34 healthy individuals were enrolled in the study. Unstimulated whole saliva was collected from the participants to determine the salivary iron level and to investigate the presence of oral Candida colonization. RESULTS: The salivary iron level was significantly higher in OLP patients undergoing topical steroid therapy with a history of oral candidiasis compared with OLP patients undergoing topical steroid therapy without a history of oral candidiasis and healthy individuals (P = 0.04 and P < 0.001, respectively). Moreover, the Candida colony count in OLP patients undergoing topical steroid therapy with a history of oral candidiasis was significantly higher compared with OLP patients undergoing topical steroid therapy without a history of oral candidiasis and healthy Individuals (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: High salivary iron level associates with a high amount of oral Candida colonization in OLP patients undergoing topical steroid therapy with a history of oral candidiasis. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered at the Thai Clinical Trials Registry on 2nd June 2022 (TCTR identifier: TCTR20220602006).

Source: BMC Oral Health

DOI: 10.1186/s12903-025-05950-2

Authors: Auranat Prachayakul, Jeerus Sucharitakul, Jaranya Chadsiri, Chanwit Prapinjumrune

Institution: Chulalongkorn University

Language: English

Topic: Oral Health Pathology and Treatment

Subfield: Periodontics

Field: Dentistry

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,190