Role of Candida Species in Oral Lichen Planus

Candida albicans is the most common fungal pathogen in humans, although other Candida species can also cause candidiasis. Patients with symptomatic or erythematous oral lichen planus (OLP) have commonly been associated with these. In recent times, however, there has been a notable shift in the incidence of non-Candida albicans (NCA) species which is gaining prominence due to significant differences in their susceptibility to antimycotic drugs. Studies showed that C. glabrata and C. tropicalis were the most common NCA species isolated in OLP. Treatment failure is common among NCA species in OLP due to its intrinsic resistant or low susceptibility to commonly used antifungal agents. This article reviews the role of Candida species in etiology, pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis, and management of OLP. How to cite this article: Sarkate PR, Pathak J, Patel S, et al. Role of Candida Species in Oral Lichen Planus. J Contemp Dent 2019;9(3):124–129.