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Contact allergies to potential allergens in patients with oral lichen lesions

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Abstract

Objective

The aim of the present controlled study was to investigate a possible relationship between contact allergies to potential allergens and oral lichen lesions.

Methods

Eighty-three patients with oral lichen lesions (OLL) and control groups of age- and gender-matched dermatitis patients (DP, n = 83) and patch-tested dermatitis patients randomly selected from files (PSFF, n = 319) were included in the study. OLL and DP groups were patch-tested epicutaneously and examined intraorally.

Results

The frequencies of contact allergy to mercury and carvone were statistically higher in the OLL group than in the DP group. Surfaces of amalgam and composite restorations were statistically more frequent in the OLL group compared to the DP group. Contact allergy to nickel and colophony, the latter with a statistically significant difference, was more common in the DP group. The numerical difference found for nickel allergy was, however, not significant comparing the OLL and PSFF groups.

Conclusion

Contact allergy to mercury was overrepresented in patients with OLL and has been reported in previous studies, but the present finding of an overrepresentation of contact allergy to carvone in patients with oral lichen lesions has not been reported previously.

Clinical relevance

Carvone, in addition to mercury and gold, as previously suggested, can be one of the causative or maintenant factors for oral lichen lesions. Carvone-hypersensitive patients with oral lichen lesions should therefore avoid carvone-containing products for oral use.

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Acknowledgments

The National Board of Health and Welfare, Sweden, and The Swedish Dental Association funded the study. We thank Monica Andersson and Bodil Sjöström for skilful assistance with the patients and Per-Erik Isberg for statistical help.

Declaration of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Odontology, Malmö University, Carl Gustafs väg 34, 205 06, Malmö, Sweden

    Camilla Ahlgren

  2. Maxillofacial Unit, Halmstad Hospital Halland, 301 85, Halmstad, Sweden

    Tony Axéll

  3. Department of Occupational and Environmental Dermatology, Skane University Hospital (SUS), Lund University, 205 02, Malmo, Sweden

    Halvor Möller, Marléne Isaksson & Magnus Bruze

  4. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Oral Medicine, Faculty of Odontology, Malmö University, 205 06, Malmö, Sweden

    Rolf Liedholm

Authors
  1. Camilla Ahlgren
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  2. Tony Axéll
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Correspondence to Camilla Ahlgren.

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Ahlgren, C., Axéll, T., Möller, H. et al. Contact allergies to potential allergens in patients with oral lichen lesions. Clin Oral Invest 18, 227–237 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-013-0950-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-013-0950-2

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