I will see what I can dig up about the one you mention in particular. The research I have been doing on skin manifestations in Lyme is making it seem very highly likely. There are multitudes of skin problems turning up positive for Lyme in research. Pretty wild.
Melanie might have some idea about this as well. I know she was pulling together research on skin problems in Lyme.
Posted by nenet (Member # 13174) on :
This is looking like a positive response to your question:
"Why Is Chronic Lyme Borreliosis Chronic?" (link to pdf article - search within your pdf viewer for lichen planus)
"Some believe that many cases of clinically diagnosed lichen planus may actually be lichen sclerosus and that isolated oral mucosal lichen sclerosus may not be as rare as is thought.
The cause of lichen sclerosus is unknown. Over the years, a number of etiologies have been proposed.
Several studies have linked borrelial or other infections with lichen sclerosus,5 yet other studies have disputed this. This concept has reemerged with European reports demonstrating Borrelia more readily in lichen sclerosus cases using "focus-floating microscopy" than conventional histology.
6 Genetic and autoimmune factors have been explored without identification of consistent, reproducible patterns, although autoantibodies to ECM1 have now been reported by several independent authors. Increased circulating autoantibodies may be as high as 28%, comparable to the rate seen in bullous lichen planus."
Posted by nenet (Member # 13174) on :
Further Evidence for Borrelia burgdorferi Infection in Morphea and Lichen Sclerosus et Atrophicus Confirmed by DNA Amplification
"A 39-year-old woman with coexistent lichen planus, lichen sclerosus, and generalized morphea with ulcerations is described..."
Please let me know if you would like me to try to find more research for you.
Posted by Kreynolds (Member # 15117) on :
nenet,
thanks for all the info!
Posted by nenet (Member # 13174) on :
You're very welcome!
Here is a great thread posted by Melanie Reber, where she and others have been collecting TONS of research on many different skin presentations in Lyme disease, so it is likely you will find pertinent info there. I highly recommend giving it a good read.
Good luck, byt the way. It sure isn't easy educating the unititiated, especially when you're trying to let them know they might have it.
Posted by Parisa (Member # 10526) on :
My husband just had a biopsy done of a lesion in his mouth. Came back as lichen planus.
Posted by Kreynolds (Member # 15117) on :
nenet and Parisa,
Thanks for your responses and the link, very helpful!
Posted by Abxnomore (Member # 18936) on :
I have a friend who has lyme and had a gum biopsy
and it came back positive for Lichen Planus. It was
the first time I had ever heard of it and
especially associated with lyme.
Posted by Abxnomore (Member # 18936) on :
Parisa, do they think it is related to having Lyme disease or co infections? How does it manifest besides in the mouth?