Abstract
Background and aims. The clinical management of oral lichen planus poses considerable difficulties to the clinician.
In recent years, researchers have focused on the presence of pathogenic microorganisms such as Candida albicans in the
patients with refractory lichen planus. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of candida species in
the erosive oral lichen planus lesions.
Materials and methods. Twenty-one patients with erosive oral lichen planus and twenty-one healthy individuals aged
18-60 were randomly selected; samples were taken from the tongue, saliva and buccal mucosa with swab friction. Theses
samples were sent to the laboratory for determining the presence of candida species in cultures and direct examination
method.
Results. No significant difference was found between healthy individuals and patients with erosive lichen planus regarding
presence of candida species. The type of candida in the evaluated samples was Candida albicans in both healthy and
patient groups.
Conclusion. According to the results, candida was not confirmed as an etiologic factor for erosive lichen planus lesions.