Evaluation of Serum Desmoglein 1 and Desmoglein 3 in Oral Erosive Lichen Planus before and after Topical Application of Tacrolimus.

AIM: The current study will attempt to throw light on the role of desmoglein 1 and desmoglein 3 in the pathogenesis of erosive lichen planus and their response to topical application of tacrolimus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients with erosive oral lichen planus received tacrolimus ointment three times daily for eight weeks. Assessments using the clinical score and a visual analog scale were recorded at each visit. Serum concentrations of circulating autoantibodies to desmoglein 1 and desmoglein 3 will be determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at baseline, four weeks and eight weeks after treatment. Statistical software SPSS v.17.0 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: All patients showed significant improvement in all outcomes within the follow-up periods when compared with the baseline (p < 0.05). The mean value of the visual analog scale were 8.30 +/- 1.49, 4.15 +/- 1.14, 2.10 +/- 0.91, 0.90 +/- 0.79, and 0.0 +/- 0.0 starting from baseline to the end of follow up period. The mean value of the clinical score were 4.7 +/- 0.48, 2.9 +/- 1.29, 1.8 +/- 1.32, 1.31 +/- 0.69, and 0.69 +/- 0.09 starting from baseline to the end of follow-up period. There was a significant decrease in the levels of anti-Dsg1 and anti-Dsg3, during the follow-up period (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The concluded data suggest that antibodies against desmoglein 1 and desmoglein 3 seem to play a key role in the pathogenesis of oral lichen planus. Also, there is a significant decrease in the level of anti-Dsgl and anti-Dsg3 autoantibodies with topical tacrolimus 0.1% ointment. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Monitoring the serum level of antibodies against keratinocyte cadherins Dsg 1 and Dsg 3 can be used to evaluate the effect of topical application of tacrolimus on Erosive Oral lichen planus.