title: Oral manifestations of hepatitis C virus infection.
abstract: Extrahepatic manifestations (EHMs) of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can affect a variety of organ systems with significant morbidity and mortality. Some of the most frequently reported EHM of HCV infection, involve the oral region predominantly or exclusively. Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory condition that is potentially malignant and represents cell-mediated reaction to a variety of extrinsic antigens, altered self-antigens, or super antigens. Robust epidemiological evidence support the link between OLP and HCV. As the virus may replicate in the oral mucosa and attract HCV-specific T lymphocytes, HCV may be implicated in OLP pathogenesis. Sjögren syndrome (SjS) is an autoimmune exocrinopathy, characterized by dryness of the mouth and eyes and a multitude of other systemic signs and symptoms. SjS patients have also an increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Patients with chronic hepatitis C do frequently have histological signs of Sjögren-like sialadenitis with mild or even absent clinical symptoms. However, it is still unclear if HCV may cause a disease mimicking SjS or it is directly responsible for the development of SjS in a specific subset of patients. Oral squamous cell carcinoma is the most common oral malignant tumour and at least in some part of the world could be linked to HCV.
authors: Marco Carrozzo, Kara Scally, Centre for Oral Health Research, Oral Medicine Department, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4BW, United Kingdom.
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Carrozzo
authors: Marco Carrozzo, Kara Scally, Centre for Oral Health Research, Oral Medicine Department, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4BW, United Kingdom.
authors: Kara
authors: K
authors: Scally
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012793:Sialadenitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology
keywords: Hepatitis C virus; Lichen planus; Oral lichen planus; Oral squamous cell carcinoma; Sialadenitis; Sjogren’s syndrome