Evaluation of Salivary Cortisol Levels, Anxiety Status, and Periodontal Inflammation in Patients with Oral Lichen Planus

Year 2025, Volume: 16 Issue: 2, 243 - 252, 18.08.2025

Yasemin Tahir , Ceyda Gürhan , R. Irmak Turhal , Özge Kozguş Güldü , Hülya Çankaya , Betül İlhan , Pelin Güneri , Özgün Özçaka Yüksel

https://doi.org/10.22312/sdusbed.1543003

Abstract

Aim: This study aims to evaluate anxiety levels and salivary cortisol concentrations in both healthy individuals and patients with oral lichen planus (OLP), and to compare their periodontal health status.
Methods: Participants were selected from those visiting the E.U. Faculty of Dentistry. The OLP group consisted of individuals with confirmed OLP through histopathological diagnosis, while the control group included individuals attending for routine dental check-ups. Demographic data were recorded, and participants completed the second part of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-II). Saliva samples were collected, and plaque and bleeding indices were assessed to gauge periodontal health. Salivary cortisol levels were measured using a commercial kit. Statistical analyses were performed using t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, chi-square tests, and Pearson correlation coefficients (p<0.05).
Results: A total of 101 participants were included, with 54 in the OLP group and 47 controls. Age and gender distributions were similar between groups (p>0.05). The OLP group had significantly higher STAI-II scores (mean of 47.54) compared to the control group (mean of 42.60) (p=0.002). In contrast, salivary cortisol levels were significantly higher in the healthy group (mean of 3864.30 pg/ml) compared to the OLP group (mean of 3337.11 pg/ml) (p=0.005). Correlation analyses indicated a positive relationship between age, STAI-II scores, and bleeding on probing in the OLP group.
Conclusion: Psychological factors may exert a greater influence than neuroendocrine factors in OLP patients. Integrating psychological and psychiatric specialists into a multidisciplinary treatment approach could significantly improve treatment outcomes and enhance the quality of life for these patients.

Keywords

oral lichen planus, stress, level of anxiety, STAI

Project Number

Proje no:18-DİŞ 013

Oral Liken Planus Hastalarında Tükürük Kortizol Seviyesi, Kaygı Durumu ve Periodontal Enflamasyonun Değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

Amaç: Çalışmanın amacı sağlıklı bireyler ve oral liken planus (OLP) hastalarında kaygı düzeylerinin ve tükürük kortizol seviyelerinin değerlendirilmesidir. Hastaların periodontal sağlıklarının belirlenerek karşılaştırılması da hedeflenmektedir.
Yöntem: Katılımcılar E.Ü. Diş Hekimliği Fakültesine muayene amacıyla başvuran bireyler arasından belirlendi. OLP hasta grubu, ağızda OLP’ye bağlı yakınmaları olan ve OLP tanısı histopatolojik olan doğrulanmış hastalardan oluşturulurken, kontrol grubu rutin muayene amacıyla başvurmuş bireyler arasından seçildi. Demografik veriler kaydedildi ve hastalardan durumluk-sürekli anksiyete (STAI-II) ölçeğinin ikinci bölümünü doldurmaları istendi. Tükürük örnekleme sonrasında, plak ve kanama indeksleri ölçülerek periodontal durum değerlendirildi. Tükürük kortizol konsantrasyonları ticari bir kit kullanılarak belirlendi. Veriler t-testi, Mann-Whitney U testi ve ki-kare ve Pearson korelasyonu ile değerlendirildi (p<0,05).
Bulgular: Çalışmaya 54 OLP hastası ve 47 sağlıklı birey olmak üzere toplam 101 hasta dâhil edildi. Gruplar arasında yaş ve cinsiyet dağılımı benzerdi (p>0,05). Sondalamada kanama yüzdesi (p=0,368), plak yüzdesi (p=0,668) ve gingivitis varlığı (p=0,546) açısından anlamlı fark belirlenmedi. OLP grubun ortalama STAI-II değeri (47,54) kontrol grubuna oranla (42,60) anlamlı şekilde daha yüksekti (p=0,002). Ancak ortalama tükürük kortizol seviyelerinin sağlıklı grupta (3864,30 pg/ml) OLP grubuna kıyasla (3337,11 pg/ml) anlamlı şekilde daha yüksek olduğu belirlendi (p=0,005). Korelasyon analizleri, OLP grubunda yaş ve STAI-II skoru ile (p=0,020) sondalamada kanama yüzdesi (p=0,028) arasında pozitif bir ilişki varlığını gösterdi. Her iki grupta da STAI-II skoru ve tükürük kortizol seviyesi arasında anlamlı bir korelasyon gözlenmedi.
Sonuç: OLP hastalarında psikolojik faktörlerin etkisi nöroendokrin etkenlerden daha baskın olabilir. Bu hastaların tedavisinde uygulanacak multidisipliner yaklaşıma psikolojik/psikiyatrik uzmanların da dahil edilmesi tedavi etkinliğinin ve hastanın yaşam kalitesinin artırılmasına önemli katkılar sağlayabilir.

Keywords

oral liken planus, stres, kaygı düzeyi, STAI

Project Number

Proje no:18-DİŞ 013

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