[Prevalence of hepatitis C virus in oral erosive lichen].
OBJECTIVE
An increased prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related hepatitis has been reported in patients with lichen planus. The aim of our retrospective study was to determine whether there is a relationship between the erosive form of oral lichen planus and HCV.


METHODS
A retrospective study was conducted in a consecutive sample of 28 patients suffering from oral erosive lichen planus and seen in our department between 1992 and 1996. Anti-HCV antibodies were detected in all cases by third generation recombinant immunoblot assay. PCR was performed to detect HCV RNA in the serum sample from 19 patients.


RESULTS
Eight patients (29 p. 100) tested positive for HCV antibodies. These results were compared with the rate of HCV chronic carriers which is between 1 and 2 p. 100 in our region (Southern France). Among these 8 patients, 7 had severe chronic liver disease, and 5 of them were actively replicating the virus.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest a strong relationship between erosive oral lichen planus and HCV-related chronic hepatitis. We conclude that patients with the erosive form of oral lichen planus should be systematically evaluated for HCV infection.
Dupond
A S
AS
Service de Dermatologie, Hôpital Archet-2, Nice.
Lacour
J P
JP
Lafont
C
C
Ortonne
J P
JP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral
Prévalence du virus de l'hépatite C dans le lichen érosif buccal.