Anemia, hematinic deficiencies, and hyperhomocysteinemia in younger and older oral lichen planus patients.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Our previous study found that 25.2 %, 16.8 %, 10.2 %, 1.2 %, and 21.1 % of 588 oral lichen planus (OLP) patients have anemia, serum iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiencies, and hyperhomocysteinemia, respectively. This study mainly assessed the anemia, hematinic deficiencies, and hyperhomocysteinemia in 190 younger (≤50 years old) and 398 older (>50 years old) OLP patients.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

The blood hemoglobin (Hb) and serum iron, vitamin B12, folic acid, and homocysteine levels in 190 younger and 398 older OLP patients were measured and compared with the corresponding levels in 190 younger (≤50 years old) and 398 older (>50 years old) healthy control subjects (HCSs), respectively.

RESULTS

We discovered that 190 younger OLP patients had significantly lower mean blood Hb and serum iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid levels than 190 younger HCSs. Moreover, 398 older OLP patients had significantly lower mean blood Hb, and serum iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid levels and significantly higher mean serum homocysteine level than 398 older HCSs. In addition, 190 younger OLP patients had significantly lower mean serum vitamin B12, folic acid, and homocysteine levels, and a significantly higher frequency of iron deficiency and significantly lower frequencies of vitamin B12 deficiency and hyperhomocysteinemia than 398 older OLP patients.

CONCLUSION

The younger OLP patients do have significantly lower mean serum vitamin B12 and folic acid levels, and a significantly higher frequency of serum iron deficiency but a significantly lower frequency of serum vitamin B12 deficiency than the older OLP patients.