title: Oral lichen planus in patients with chronic liver diseases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The possible increased risk of oral lichen planus (OLP) in patients with chronic liver diseases is a controversial issue.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated a total of 156 outpatients with known liver diseases for occurrence of OLP. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was proven for 117 patients (75%) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection for 16 patients (10.3%). Four patients were coinfected with HCV and HBV. An alcohol-derived hepatic cirrhosis was found in 23 patients (14.7%). Three patients had a biliary cirrhosis and one had a primary sclerosing cholangitis. Patients suspected of having OLP were transferred to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery where excisional biopsies were taken.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight patients had a white alteration of the oral mucosa. OLP was suspected in five of them and was confirmed histologically in four. The alteration of the fifth patient disappeared during continued interferon therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results show that there is no increased prevalence of OLP manifestation in patients suffering from HCV infection.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, D-20246 Hamburg, Germany. rfriedri@uke.uni-hamburg.de
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Friedrich
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heiland
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El-Moawen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dogan
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: von Schrenck
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Löning
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution