Clinical and histopathologic analysis of the relationship between lichen planus and chronic hepatitis C.
A prospective clinical investigation of 45 patients with lichen planus (LP) demonstrated a significant association between LP and chronic hepatitis C. Anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies were found in 17 (37.8%) of the 45 LP patients. This was significantly higher than in the controls. This higher prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies was found equally in both male and female patients in the three types of LP; cutaneous only type, mucous only type, and both cutaneous and mucous type. Most of the patients with positive anti-HCV antibodies had abnormal values of transaminase enzymes and/or a past history of chronic hepatitis. Histological and immunohistological investigations of three cases with LP and chronic hepatitis C demonstrated some morphologic similarities between these two diseases. Histopathologic findings of both LP and chronic hepatitis C were based on a T lymphocytic infiltrate with keratinocyte or hepatocyte damage. The degrees of infiltrating cells positive to UCHL-1, MX-panB, Leu-7, and human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR antibodies in the chronic hepatitis C lesions seemed to be similar to those in the LP lesions. These results may support a possible relationship between LP and chronic hepatitis C and the hypothesis that LP may be associated with chronic liver diseases as a result of a cytotoxic attack on the hepatocytes.
Tanei
R
R
Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Kitasato University, Kanagawa, Japan.
Watanabe
K
K
Nishiyama
S
S
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008010:Lichen Planus / Q000150:complications* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000637:Transaminases / Q000032:analysis
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D000637:Transaminases