Abstract
Based on the latest medical research, it is supposed that lichen planus is an inflammatory disorder, associated with autoimmune diseases, hepatitis C infection, oxidative stress or antioxidant deficiency. The purpose of the present work is to determine a panel of serum antioxidants, possibly involved in the development/persistence of the disease. The determination of extracellular antioxidants (bilirubin, uric acid, albumin, iron, transferrin, ferritin, copper, ceruloplasmin, total antioxidant capacity) in patients with lichen planus during exacerbations have revealed a significant reduction in non-enzymatic antioxidant systems. Hepatitis C virus enhances the deficit of antioxidants in patients with lichen planus. Based on these findings, the authors consider that lichen planus is a complex disease of unidentified cause and its pathogenic mechanisms are still incompletely elucidated. It may be speculated that several interconnected mechanisms are involved in the onset and evolution of lichen planus.