PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Al-Hamdi, Khalil I.
TI  - Can deram be a cause of oral lichen planus?
DP  - 2008 Jul 01
TA  - Saudi Medical Journal
PG  - 1028--1030
VI  - 29
IP  - 7
4099  - http://smj.org.sa/content/29/7/1028.short
4100  - http://smj.org.sa/content/29/7/1028.full
SO  - Saudi Med J2008 Jul 01; 29
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To study the relationship between oral lichen planus LP and the habit of chewing deram.METHODS: A clinically based controlled observational study including a total of 176 women who used to chew deram and 200 women who never used deram, who consulted the Dermatology Department of Basrah Teaching Hospital, and a private clinic, Barsah, Iraq during the period from February 2005 to July 2007.RESULTS: The study showed that the incidence of oral LP is greater among 176 deram chewers (23.3%) in comparison with 200 women who never use deram (1.5%), particularly among those with frequent (51.2%) and prolonged (65.8%) chewing of deram. Oral lesions, were mostly asymptomatic (80.5%) and predominantly of reticulate pattern (87.9%). Avoidance of deram chewing induced marked or complete improvement of the oral lesions in 56.3% of cases even without treatment within a 3 month follow up period. Pathological examination showed features similar to classical LP.CONCLUSIONS: Deram chewing should be considered as a possible cause of oral LP, particularly among frequent and prolonged chewers.