Oral lichen planusa microbiologist point of view

  1. Tomás González Villa 1
  2. Ángeles Sánchez Pérez 2
  3. Carmen Sieiro Vázquez 3
  1. 1 Universidade de Santiago de Compostela
    info

    Universidade de Santiago de Compostela

    Santiago de Compostela, España

    ROR https://ror.org/030eybx10

  2. 2 University of Sydney
    info

    University of Sydney

    Sídney, Australia

    ROR https://ror.org/0384j8v12

  3. 3 Universidade de Vigo
    info

    Universidade de Vigo

    Vigo, España

    ROR https://ror.org/05rdf8595

Revista:
International microbiology: official journal of the Spanish Society for Microbiology

ISSN: 1618-1905

Ano de publicación: 2021

Volume: 24

Número: 3

Páxinas: 275-289

Tipo: Artigo

Outras publicacións en: International microbiology: official journal of the Spanish Society for Microbiology

Resumo

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic disease of uncertain etiology, although it is generally considered as an immune-mediated disease that affects the mucous membranes and even the skin and nails. Over the years, this disease was attributed to a variety of causes, including different types of microorganisms. This review analyzes the present state of the art of the disease, from a microbiological point of view, while considering whether or not the possibility of a microbial origin for the disease can be supported. From the evidence presented here, OLP should be considered an immunological disease, as it was initially proposed, as opposed to an illness of microbiological origin. The different microorganisms so far described as putative disease-causing agents do not fulfill Koch’s postulates; they are, actually, not the cause, but a result of the disease that provides the right circumstances for microbial colonization. This means that, at this stage, and unless new data becomes available, no microorganism can be envisaged as the causative agent of lichen planus.