Hepatitis C virus and lichen planus.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an important factor in the development of chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. In recent years it has become known that HCV induces various extrahepatic manifestations including mixed cryoglobulinemia, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, Sjögren's syndrome, autoimmune thyroiditis, malignant lymphoma, porphyria cutanea tarda and lichen planus. Although the mechanisms of extrahepatic manifestations remain unclear, it is known that interferon (IFN) therapy and coadministration of IFN with ribavirin are effective in promoting the disappearance or alleviation of such extrahepatic lesions, which have tended to be overlooked. The present review focuses on lichen planus, one of the major extrahepatic manifestations.
Nagao
Yumiko
Y
Research Center for Innovative Cancer Therapy, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan.
Sata
Michio
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008010:Lichen Planus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D015995:Prevalence