AI Article Synopsis
- Lichen sclerosus (LS) is a rare skin and mucous membrane condition that can affect the mouth, with unclear causes often linked to autoimmune and genetic factors.
- A 47-year-old man exhibited an unusual case of oral LS characterized by a white plaque with red patches in the mouth, without other skin conditions present.
- Immunohistochemical analyses revealed changes in tissue components, such as altered collagen and elastin levels, suggesting disruptions in tissue structure and potential involvement of immune cells in the condition's development.
Article Abstract
Lichen sclerosus (LS) is a mucocutaneous disease with uncommon oral involvement. The etiology is not yet well understood, but LS has been associated with autoimmune, genetic, and immunological factors. We report a 47-year-old man with LS that exhibited an asymptomatic white plaque with red patches on the maxillary alveolar mucosa extending to the labial mucosa. He had no other skin disease. Positive immunostaining for tenascin and scarcity of fibronectin suggested extracellular matrix reorganization. Elastin immunostaining indicated a reduction of elastic fibers. Immunoexpression of collagen IV in blood vessels and its absence in the epithelial basement membrane, together with diffuse MMP-9 immunoexpression, suggested altered proteolytic activity. Mast cell staining bordering areas of sclerosis indicated a possible role in the synthesis of collagen. IgG4 positivity in plasma cells suggested a role in the fibrogenesis. This is an unusual presentation of oral LS and we discuss immunohistochemical findings regarding cellular and extracellular matrix components.
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