O M I C S P u blishin g G r o u p J Carcinogene Mutagene ISSN:2157-2518 JCM, an open access journal Journal of Carcinogenesis & Mutagenesis - Open Access www.omicsonline.org Research Article OPEN ACCESS Freely available online doi:10.4172/2157-2518.1000113 Volume 1• Issue 3•1000113 Lack of Association of Chronic Liver Disease in Patients with Oral Lichen Lanus Ganesh Shreekanth Nellithady 1 *, Koneru Anila 2 , Kattappagari Kiran Kumar 1 and Hallikeri Kaveri 1 1 Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, SDM college of dental sciences and hospital, dharwad, karnataka, India 2 SDM College of dental sciences and hospital, dharwad, karnataka, India Keywords: India; Liver disease; Oral lichen planus; Serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase (SGOT); Serum Glutamic Pyruvic Transaminase (SGPT) Introduction Lichen planus (LP) is relatively common, chronic inflammatory mucocutaneous disease of the oral mucosa and skin, which was first described by Wilson. Oral lichen planus (OLP) affects 0.1 - 4% of the world’s population and 1.5% of Indian population [1]. Although LP is pan racial, the incidence appears greater in whites than in blacks, Orientals, or American Indians [2]. It is a disease of middle age but occasionally can be seen in children [3]. Oral manifestations are characterized by raised multiform white lesions accompanied by areas of erosion and pigmentation [1]. OLP shows different clinical patterns than those of cutaneous counterpart, and are categorized as reticular, papular, plaque-like, atrophic, erosive, and bullous forms. Malignant transformation of OLP, especially the erosive variety, showing 0.5-2.5% of transformation, but the pre-malignant potential of lichen planus is still controversial [3]. The etiopathogenesis appear to be complex with interaction of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors, although the exact mechanisms involved are not much. However an interesting new association of LP with liver disease has been emerged Scully et al. [3]. In recent years, several studies have emphasized a possible relationship between lichen planus and chronic liver disease, particularly primary biliary cirrhosis and chronic active hepatitis. The prevalence of this association varies widely in the literature. Erosive oral lichen planus is particularly stated to show an association with chronic liver disease in Southern Europe but the studies done on Scandinavian and British OLP patients have failed to show any significant association Carrozo [4]. Serum aminotransferase enzyme levels such as Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamic pyruvic *Corresponding author: Ganesh Shreekanth Nellithady, Assistant Professor, MDS in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, SDM College of dental sciences and hospital, dharwad, karnataka, India, Tel: +91-98-4461 6581; Fax: 0836-2467612; E-mail: shreekanthng@gmail.com Received November 28, 2010; Accepted December 28, 2010; Published December 29, 2010 Citation: Nellithady GS, Anila K, Kumar KK, Kaveri H (2010) Lack of Association of Chronic Liver Disease in Patients with Oral Lichen Lanus. J Carcinogene Mutagene 1:113. doi:10.4172/2157-2518.1000113 Copyright: © 2010 Nellithady GS, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Abstract Background: Lichen Planus is a chronic inflammatory disease of oral mucosa and skin. In recent years, several reports have emphasized a possible relationship between lichen planus and liver disease. Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminases (SGOT), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) are the most useful measures for liver cell injury. Purpose: To compare the levels of SGOT and SGPT in oral lichen planus patients and healthy controls to observe the existence of liver disease. Materials and Methods: The sample comprised 30 oral lichen planus patients and 30 healthy controls. The blood samples were collected from both the groups and subjected to biochemical analysis for SGPT and SGOT enzymes using semi automated biochemistry analyser. Statistical analysis was done using unpaired t-test (p <0.05). Results: Mean distribution of SGOT and SGPT in oral lichen planus are 23.18, 25.18 whereas in control group are 20.07, 17.53 respectively. SGOT levels showed a statistical significant difference between oral lichen planus patients and control group but not the SGPT levels. Conclusion: Our study showed no significant correlation between oral lichen planus and presence of liver disease. Although an increased level of SGOT enzymes in the absence of elevated SGPT levels were observed but this does not signify liver disease. transaminase (SGPT) are the most useful measures for liver cell injury. They are considered as sensitive indicators of liver damage or injury from different types of disease [5]. Elevated SGOT level may also be seen in acute muscle injury particularly in cardiac or skeletal muscle. Diseases that primarily affect hepatocytes, such as viral hepatitis, will cause disproportionate elevation of the SGOT and SGPT levels when compared to alkaline phosphatase levels. In viral hepatitis and other forms of disease associated with hepatic necrosis, blood levels of SGOT and SGPT are elevated even before clinical signs and symptoms of disease appear. The SGOT and SGPT levels show a variable increase during the prodromal phase of acute viral hepatitis and precede the rise in bilirubin level. Specific antigens and antibodies establish the diagnosis of viral hepatitis [6]. SGOT levels are considered to be less specific for liver disease when comparing to SGPT levels. It must be emphasized that higher than normal levels of these liver enzymes should not be automatically equated to liver disease. Elevated SGOT and SGPT may or may not involve with liver problems. The interpretation of elevated SGOT and SGPT levels depends upon the entire clinical evaluation of a patient [5].