title: The prevalence of hepatitis C Virus (HCV) among lichen planus patients and its clinical pattern at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, Abuja, Nigeria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The relationship between hepatitis C virus and Lichen Planus have been widely reported in the literature; although there are wide geographical variations in the reported prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in patients with lichen planus. This study seeks to determine the prevalence of hepatitis C virus among lichen planus patients and its clinical morphological type in the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada Abuja, Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted between January 2010 and December, 2011 at the out patients Dermatological unit of the department of medicine at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital Gwagwalada Abuja, Nigeria. Consecutive patients who had body eruptions suspected to be lichen planus were recruited and histology done for confirmation. The control group included patients' relations and some dermatology patients known to have low risk of hepatitis C virus infection and liver function tests done for both subjects and control after obtaining oral consent from them to participate in the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anti- HCV antibodies were detected in nine cases (21.4%) and one case (3.3%) in the control group. This was statistically significant difference between the HCV antibody among the subject and control group (P&lt;0.038). Hypertrophic lichen planus was the most frequent clinical type. Liver function test was not statistically significant among the subject and control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lichen planus and Hepatitis C virus appear to have a relationship and the prevalence rate was higher among the subject as compared to the control group in our environment.
authors.affiliation: University of Abuja Teaching Hospital Gwagwalada Abuja, Nigeria. bobify@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Agwu Bob
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Ukonu
authors.forename: Uhunmwangho
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Augustine
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008010:Lichen Planus / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies