Evaluation of increased atherosclerosis risk at lichen planus patients by measurement of carotid intima media thickness and pulse wave velocity

Lichen planus (LP) is a chronic inflammatory disease that is relatively common in the general population. Systemic inflammation plays an important role in pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in LP patients. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between atherosclerosis and LP by using pulse wave velocity (PWV) and the measurement of carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) in LP patients. Fourty LP patients and 40 healthy controls who admitted to Dermatology and Venorology Outpatient Clinic of Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine, Hospital were included in this study. Arterial blood pressure, body weight, height and waist circumference were measured and body mass indexes (BMI) were calculated before the beginning of therapy in all of the patients and controls. Biochemical parameters were recorded. Patients who met the national cholesterol education program (NCEP) criteria for metabolic syndrome were identified. PWV and CIMT values were compared. The maximum and average CIMT values of LP patients were higher than those of the healthy group. There was no significant difference in PWV values between the groups. Waist circumference and systolic blood pressure were significantly higher in LP patients than the controls. Total cholesterol, LDL and total cholesterol/HDL were significantly higher in LP patients than the controls. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups with respect to the metabolic syndrome. Data derived from our study supports the suggestion that there's a tendency towards atherosclerosis at LP. Detection of increased carotis intima media thickness, dyslipidemia and high systolic blood pressure reflects the tendency for atherosclerotic process. The most possible cause of this increased tendency for atherosclerosis seems to the underlying chronic inflammation, just like at other systemic inflammatory diseases.