Quantitative analysis of HCV RNA and genotype in patients with chronic hepatitis C accompanied by oral lichen planus.
Lichen planus (LP) is a common oral disorder that may represent a mucosal reaction to a variety of factors, including hepatitis C virus (HCV). To determine whether viral factors play a role in oral lichen planus (OLP) pathogenesis, we measured serum HCV RNA and determined HCV genotype in patients with chronic hepatitis C accompanied by OLP. The subjects included 43 patients with chronic hepatitis C: 23 with OLP (group 1) and 20 without OLP (group 2). Serum was collected from all subjects and used to quantify HCV RNA by the branched DNA signal amplification assay; HCV genotypes were classified by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method into types I, II, III and IV. Comparison of patient characteristics disclosed that the mean age of group 1, 60.7 years, was significantly higher (P = 0.001) than that of group 2 (46.4 years). No significant differences were seen between sexes in values of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total protein (T protein), albumin and gamma-globulin. There were also no significant differences in HCV RNA levels or HCV genotypes between groups. The findings suggested that OLP pathogenesis was a result of host factors rather than viral factors.
Nagao
Y
Y
Department of Oral Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine, Fukuoka, Japan.
Sata
M
M
Itoh
K
K
Tanikawa
K
K
Kameyama
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000150:complications*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D012737:Sex Factors
D012367:RNA, Viral