Subgrouping of patients with oral lichen planus according to cytochrome P450 enzyme phenotype and genotype.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine if the activity of the environmentally influenced cytochrome P450 enzyme CYP1A2, alone or in combination with CYP2D6*4 genotype, discriminates subgroups of oral lichen planus (OLP) according to lifestyle factors and clinical manifestations.

STUDY

DESIGN

A total of 111 patients with OLP were categorized according to normal, low, or high CYP1A2 activity and CYP2D6 4 genotype. Lifestyle parameters influencing the CYP1A2 activity and symptoms and manifestations of OLP were recorded.

RESULTS

Of the 111 patients, 21% had low, 65% normal, and 14% high CYP1A2 activity. The high-CYP1A2-activity group was more exposed to CYP1A2 inducers than the low-CYP1A2-activity group. In the normal-CYP1A2-activity group, more patients had a CYP2D6 4 genotype (58%) (P = .02), and they presented more symptoms (P = .003) and gingival lesions (P = .03). More patients in the low-CYP1A2-activity group and without CYP2D6 4 genotype presented red lesions (P = .04).

CONCLUSIONS

We suggest CYP2D6 4 genotype as a disease-susceptible genotype and low or high CYP1A2 activity levels as indicators of environmental influence in OLP subgroups.