Research progress on oral lichenoid drug reactions

Oral lichenoid drug reactions (OLDRs) are inflammatory reactions of the oral mucosa caused by the use of specific drugs in sensitive individuals and are classified as oral lichenoid lesions (OLLs). Its clinical and pathological manifestations do not have significant specificity compared to other types of OLL. Various types of drugs have been reported to induce OLDR, including antihypertensive drugs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, hypoglycemic drugs, antipsychotics, and immunosuppressants, among other drugs. Apart from local or systemic administrate glucocorticoids, the most effective treatment measure is to stop using suspicious drugs. Most patients can achieve significant relief from mucosal ulcers and erosion, but white lines may still remain. OLDR has been widely reported in the literature. However, due to a lack of systematic understanding, we do not have a recognized standard for the diagnosis and treatment of this disease. There are still doubts about the causal relationship between related drugs and oral lichen-like lesions. In response to the abovementioned problems, we searched the literature on drug-related oral lichen planus and lichen-like lesions at home and abroad over the past 20 years, most of which were case reports and only a few of which were case-control studies. This article describes the current research status of lichenoid lesions from four perspectives: concepts, suspicious drugs, clinical and pathological manifestations, and treatment prognosis. We hope to provide a theoretical reference for the prevention, diagnosis, and clinical treatment of related lichenoid lesions. A literature review demonstrated that there are still many unclear issues related to the etiology, pathogenesis, clinical diagnosis and treatment, treatment prognosis, and other aspects of this disease, and further clinical and basic research is needed for in-depth exploration.