Hepatitis C virus and lichen planus in Nigerians: any relationship?
BACKGROUND
The association of lichen planus with Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been widely reported in the literature. No such association, however, has been reported amongst black Africans in whom HCV is thought to be endemic. Lichen planus is a frequently encountered dermatosis in this racial group as well. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of anti-HCV amongst Nigerians with lichen planus.


METHODS
Fifty-seven Nigerians with lichen planus (LP group) and 24 patients with other dermatoses not reportedly associated with HCV (control group A) and 24 apparently normal subjects (control group B) were screened for the presence of anti-HCV by second generation ELISA.


RESULTS
Nine (15.8%) of the 57 LP group, 6 (25%) of the 24 control group A and none out of the 24 control group B were seropositive for anti-HCV.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of anti-HCV amongst Nigerian with lichen planus is lower than amongst patients with other dermatoses not associated with HCV but higher than amongst apparently normal control. It would appear that the prevalence of HCV is high in Nigeria and not necessarily in lichen planus as a specific entity.
Daramola
O O M
OO
Dermatology Division, Department of Medicine, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. nikem95@yahoo.com
George
A O
AO
Ogunbiyi
A O
AO
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008010:Lichen Planus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012494:Sampling Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution