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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staffThe cause of leukoplakia is unknown. Many possible causes have been linked to leukoplakia, including tobacco, long-term alcohol use and other chronic irritants. Though mechanical irritants, such as rough fillings or dentures, were once felt to be a cause of leukoplakia, they're no longer believed to lead to this condition.
Smoking appears to be responsible for most cases of leukoplakia. Chewing tobacco and snuff also play a key role — as many as three out of four regular users of "smokeless tobacco" products eventually develop leukoplakia where they hold the tobacco against their cheeks.
Hairy leukoplakia
Hairy leukoplakia, sometimes called oral hairy leukoplakia, results from infection with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Once you've been infected with EBV, the virus remains in your body for life. Normally, the virus is dormant, but if your immune system is weakened, either from disease or certain medications, it can become reactivated, leading to conditions such as hairy leukoplakia.
People living with HIV/AIDS are especially likely to develop hairy leukoplakia. Although the use of anti-retroviral drugs has reduced the number of cases, hairy leukoplakia still may affect as many as one-fourth of HIV-positive people, and may be one of the first signs of HIV infection. The appearance of oral hairy leukoplakia may also be an indication that anti-retroviral therapy is failing.
- Sciubba JJ. Oral mucosal lesions. In: Cummings CW. Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery. 4th ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2005. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/101896247-4/735379012/1263/585.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-01985-4..50067-8--cesec8_2400. Accessed Aug. 12, 2008.
- Smokeless tobacco and how to quit. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED_10_13X_Quitting_Smokeless_Tobacco.asp?sitearea=&level=. Accessed Aug. 9, 2008.
- Lodi G, et.al. Interventions for treating oral leukoplakia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2006;(4):CD001829.
- Gonsalves WC. Common oral lesions: Part II. Masses and neoplasia. American Family Physician. 2007;75(4):509-512.
- Pletcher SD, et al. Head and neck manifestations of human immunodeficiency virus infection. In: Cummings CW. Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery. 4th ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby;2005. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/101896247-3/0/1263/99.html?tocnode=49541644&fromURL=99.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-01985-4..50013-7_492. Accessed Aug. 12, 2008.
- Reznick DA. Perspective: Oral manifestations of HIV disease. Topics in HIV Medicine. 2005/2006;13(5):143-148.
- Can oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers be prevented? American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_2X_Can_oral_cavity_and_oropharyngeal_cancer_be_prevented_60.asp?sitearea=. Accessed Aug. 9, 2008.
- Handa S. Leukoplakia, oral hairy. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor. 1st ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/101896247-4/735379012/1531/365.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-04135-5..50015-0--subchapter16_7178. Accessed Aug. 13, 2008.
- Mernitz H, et al. Beta-carotene. United States Department of Agriculture. http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publications.htm?seq_no_115=208393. Accessed Aug. 12, 2008.
- Carr, AB (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Aug. 13, 2008.
