Higher serum gastric parietal cell antibody titers are associated with increased frequencies of macrocytosis, vitamin B12 deficiency, and hyperhomocysteinemia in patients with oral lichen planus

Authors

• Yu-Hsueh Wu, Department of Stomatology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
• Yi-Pang Lee, Department of Dentistry, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien, Taiwan
• Julia Yu-Fong Chang, Department of Dentistry, National Taiwan University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
• Yi-Ping Wang, Department of Dentistry, National Taiwan University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
• Andy Sun, Department of Dentistry, National Taiwan University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
• Chun-Pin Chiang, Department of Dentistry, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien, TaiwanFollow

First Page

1393

Last Page

1401

Abstract

Background/purpose: Our previous study found 139 gastric parietal cell antibody (GPCA)-positive oral lichen planus (OLP) patients (GPCA⁺OLP patients) in a group of 588 OLP patients. This study evaluated whether higher-titer (serum GPCA titer ≥ 160) GPCA⁺OLP patients had greater frequencies of macrocytosis, anemia, serum iron and vitamin B12 deficiencies, and hyperhomocysteinemia than lower-titer (GPCA titer ≤ 80) GPCA⁺OLP patients or 588 healthy control subjects.

Materials and methods: Complete blood count, serum iron, vitamin B12, folic acid, homocysteine, and GPCA levels in 53 higher-titer GPCA⁺OLP patients, 86 lower-titer GPCA⁺OLP patients, and 588 healthy control subjects were measured and compared.

Results: We found that 32.1%, 37.7%, 24.5%, 43.4%, and 86.8% of higher-titer GPCA⁺OLP patients and 14.0%, 24.4%, 23.3%, 19.8%, and 34.9% of 86 lower-titer GPCA⁺OLP patients were diagnosed as having macrocytosis, anemia, serum iron and vitamin B12 deficiencies, and hyperhomocysteinemia, respectively. Moreover, both 53 higher-titer and 86 lower-titer GPCA⁺OLP patients had significantly greater frequencies of macrocytosis, anemia, serum iron and vitamin B12 deficiencies, and hyperhomocysteinemia than 588 healthy control subjects (all P-values < 0.001). In addition, 53 higher-titer GPCA⁺OLP patients also had significantly greater frequencies of macrocytosis, serum vitamin B12 deficiency, and hyperhomocysteinemia than 86 lower-titer GPCA⁺OLP patients (all P-values < 0.05).

Conclusion: The higher-titer GPCA⁺OLP patients have significantly greater frequencies of macrocytosis, serum vitamin B12 deficiency, and hyperhomocysteinemia than lower-titer GPCA⁺OLP patients. Thus, we conclude that higher serum GPCA titers are associated with increased frequencies of macrocytosis, vitamin B12 deficiency, and hyperhomocysteinemia in patients with oral lichen planus.

Recommended Citation

Wu, Yu-Hsueh; Lee, Yi-Pang; Chang, Julia Yu-Fong; Wang, Yi-Ping; Sun, Andy; and Chiang, Chun-Pin (2026) "Higher serum gastric parietal cell antibody titers are associated with increased frequencies of macrocytosis, vitamin B12 deficiency, and hyperhomocysteinemia in patients with oral lichen planus," Journal of Dental Sciences: Vol. 21: Iss. 3, Article 7.
Available at: https://jds.ads.org.tw/journal/vol21/iss3/7

Publication Date

2026