Role of Epstein-Barr Virus in Pathogenesis of Oral Lichen Planus

Activity: Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation

Description

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is chronic inflammatory disease affecting 1-2% of the general adult population, and has up to 1% chances of malignant transformation. The aetiology of it is unknown, however there is some information on the involvement of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in the aetiology of OLP. The aim of the study was to evaluate the association of EBV infection with OLP based on viral load in saliva and to estimate any viral changes in the tissue samples morphologically.. 22 patients (17 females and 5 males), ages between 18-75, who visited Clinic of Maxillo-facial surgery and Oral Medicine were included in the study. The diagnosis was confirmed by histopathological investigation of the lesions. Saliva samples were taken on the first visit, stored at -80 degrees and later transported to the Institute of Microbiology and Virology for real time PCR.. 13 patients had reticular form of OLP and 9 erosive forms. Out of 22 patients 21 were anti-EBV IgG seropositive however, not all the patients showed EBV presence in saliva. Saliva samples of 13 patients were EBV PCR positive, 10 of them where patients with reticular form of OLP, moreover 4 of these patients had viral load more than 105 EBV copies/ml saliva.  Morphology of OLP showed a dense infiltrate formed mostly of lymphocytes and macrophages under the mucosal epithelium, migration of inflammatory cells intraepithelial, as well as apoptotic epithelial cells and vacuolar damage of them in the lower mucosal layers and the degeneration of the basal layer, which may indicate the presence of virus.. The results of this pilot study suggest that EBV infection is associated with or is the trigger factor for OLP development. However, these results are preliminary, and larger‐scale study is required to draw global conclusion on the role EBV in OLP pathogenesis.
Period29 Mar 2023
Event titleRSU International Research Conference 2023: Knowledge for Use in Practice
Event typeConference
OrganiserRīga Stradiņš University
LocationRiga, LatviaShow on map
Degree of RecognitionInternational

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