Clinical and pathological characteristics of oral lichen planus in hepatitis C-positive and -negative patients

Abstract

The reported prevalence rate of anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies in patients with oral lichen planus shows wide geographical variation and ranges from 0 to 65%. Certain characteristic clinical features have been attributed to oral lichen planus associated to HCV infection. The purpose of this investigation has been to assess hypothetical clinical differences, as well as differences in the intensity of the subepithelial inflammatory infiltrate between oral lichen planus-HCV +ve patients and oral lichen planus-HCV -ve patients. A total of sixty-two patients entered the study. Their mean age was 63.5 +/- 14.49 years, and 48.4% of them were men and 51.6% women. Patients were classified according to their serum HCV positivity. Age, sex, clinical presentation (reticular or atrophic-erosive), extension of the lesions, location of the lesions, number of locations affected, intensity of the inflammatory infiltrate and Candida albicans colonization were recorded for each patient. Reticular lichen planus was the most frequent clinical presentation in both HCV +ve (57.1%) and HCV -ve patients (63.6%). C. albicans colonization ranged from 42.8% in HCV +ve and 41.7% in HCV -ve patients. HCV + ve patients showed certain oral locations more frequently affected than HCV -ve ones: lip mucosa, 28.6% versus 7.3%; tongue, 57.1% versus 29.1%; and gingiva, 71.4% versus 23.6%. The number of affected intraoral locations was higher in HCV +ve patients (71.4%) than among HCV -ve ones (20.4%; chi2 = 8.34; P < 0.011). No statistically significant differences could be established in terms of density of subepithelial inflammatory infiltrate between the groups. Our results reinforce the need for liver examination in all patients with oral lichen planus, particularly those showing lesions on the gingiva with multiple intraoral locations affected, as no pathological differences could be identified between HCV + ve and HCV -ve patients.

Possible link between Hashimoto's thyroiditis and oral lichen planus: a novel association found

“…Lichen planus has been associated to a number of disorders, generally of autoimmune origin: myasthenia gravis, Sjogren's syndrome, ulcerative colitis, psoriasis, thymoma, lupus erythematous, coeliac disease [1]. Likewise, Sjogren's syndrome, lupus erythematous, type 1 diabetes, pernicious anaemia, surrenal deficiency and Grave's disease were considered as HTassociated disorders [2].…”

Refractory Erosive Oral Lichen Planus Associated with Hepatitis C: Response to Topical Tacrolimus Ointment

“…2 Evidence suggests that the pathogenesis and clinical features of OLP associated with hepatitis C may differ from the HCV-negative form of the disease. 3 HCV-positive OLP differs with respect to its distribution among the six morphologic OLP subtypes, 3 has a predilection for different sites within the mouth, 2 tends to have more extensive intraoral involvement, 4 and has a higher incidence of progression to oral squamous cell carcinoma. 5 The lower lip may be up to four times more frequently involved in HCV-positive OLP than in HCV-negative cases.…”

“…5 The lower lip may be up to four times more frequently involved in HCV-positive OLP than in HCV-negative cases. 4 Given these differences, validation of treatment outcomes in HCV-associated OLP is needed to ensure the appropriate management of this subgroup of patients.…”

Oral Lichen Planus as an Extra–hepatic Manifestation of Viral Hepatitis–Evaluation in Indian Subpopulation

“…Worldwide Studies of the association of HCV and OLP have conflicting results demonstrating a positive association in Japan [8], Italy [9], Southern Europe [10], France [11] and Spain [12] and a negative association with The Netherlands [13] and United Kingdom [14]. HCV association with LP has been found in the Indian population in one study.…”