Antigastric parietal cell and antithyroid autoantibodies in patients with desquamative gingivitis

Background Desquamative gingivitis (DG) is principally associated with erosive oral lichen planus (EOLP), mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP), and pemphigus vulgaris (PV). Methods Serum autoantibodies including antigastric parietal cell antibody (GPCA), antithyroglobulin antibody (TGA), and antithyroid microsomal antibody (TMA) were measured in 500 patients with DG, 287 EOLP without DG (EOLP/DG−) patients, and 100 healthy control subjects. Results The 500 patients with DG were diagnosed as having EOLP in 455 (91%), PV in 40 (8%), and MMP in five (1%) patients. We found that 37.0%, 43.6%, and 42.6% of 500 patients with DG, 39.6%, 46.4%, and 45.1% of 455 EOLP with DG (EOLP/DG) patients, and 18.5%, 27.5%, and 30.3% of 287 EOLP/DG− patients had the presence of GPCA, TGA, and TMA in their sera, respectively. DG, EOLP/DG, and EOLP/DG− patients all had a significantly higher frequency of GPCA, TGA, or TMA positivity than healthy control subjects (all P‐values < 0.001). Moreover, 455 EOLP/DG patients had a significantly higher frequency of GPCA, TGA, or TMA positivity than 287 EOLP/DG− patients (all P‐values < 0.001). Of 210 TGA/TMA‐positive patients with DG whose serum thyroid‐stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were measured, 84.3%, 6.7%, and 9.0% patients had normal, lower, and higher serum TSH levels, respectively. Conclusion We conclude that 73.4% DG, 77.1% EOLP/DG, and 47.4% EOLP/DG− patients may have GPCA/TGA/TMA positivity in their sera. Because part of GPCA‐positive patients may develop pernicious anemia, autoimmune atrophic gastritis, and gastric carcinoma, and part of TGA/TMA‐positive patients may have thyroid dysfunction, these patients should be referred to medical department for further management.