The magnitude of the association between hepatitis C virus infection and oral lichen planus: meta-analysis and case control study

Abstract

Although hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with oral lichen planus (OLP), a case-control study and a meta-analysis were designed to investigate the magnitude of such an association. A total of 413 presumptive OLP patients (18-75 years) who referred to a dental clinic in Rasht (Iran) were consecutively selected. OLP was diagnosed clinically (typical forms) and histologically (atypical forms) by a calibrated examiner. A total of 487 adults (20-77 years) attending the same dental clinic were the controls. The two groups were homogeneous in terms of age, gender and occupation. Subjects were tested for anti-HCV antibodies. The odds ratio (OR) for OLP attributable to HCV infection was non-significant [OR 1.2, 95% confidence interval (95CI) 0.3-4.8], suggesting that the association between HCV and OLP was weak in the Iranian context. Meta-analysis of observational studies characteristics of primary studies were that cases were diagnosed clinically (only typical forms) and histologically and exposure was assessed through anti-HCV antibodies. Exposed/unexposed cases/controls were extracted and zero values were appropriately transformed. As much as 44 studies, including the present, were located. Publication bias could not be totally excluded. The pooled OR, estimated using the random-effect model, was 2.8 (95CI 2.4-3.2). Sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of results. Subgroup analysis showed non-significant differences between American/European and Asian/African studies. The fraction of global OLP cases associated with HCV (population attributable fraction) was 2.1% (95CI 1.9-2.2%). Although HCV and OLP were significantly associated, the majority of OLP patients were not affected by HCV.

A prospective case control study on metabolic syndrome in lichen planus in a tertiary care centre

“…Among the 36 patients, 31 (86.1%) had skin lesions alone. Three (8.3%) patients had nail [13][14][15] One study has also showed an association between hashimotos thyroiditis and lichen planus. 16 The association between metabolic syndrome and lichen planus is not well established though a few studies have shown higher rate of metabolic syndrome in patients with lichen planus.…”

Association between -308 G/A polymorphism in TNF-α gene and lichen planus: A meta-analysis

“…Clinical subtypes of nonerosive (neOLP) and erosive (eOLP) forms are well recognized and the risk of malignant potential should be considered [4]. An immune mediated pathogenesis is recognized in lichen planus [5], and previous studies have suggested that hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection [6][7][8] could account for the etiology of lichen planus. However, LP etio-pathogenesis is still unclear.…”

Associação entre líquen plano e o vírus da hepatite C: Um estudo de metanálise

“…Os pacientes com LP eram, em sua maioria, compostos por mulheres em treze dos dezasseis estudos, 6,10,[15][16][17][18][19][20]22,[24][25][26][27] enquanto que os homens foram maioria, no grupo de LP, em um deles, 21 sendo que um estudo não quantificou a relação de homens e mulheres nesse grupo. 23 Em relação ao grupo controle, as mulheres também foram maioria em oito dos trabalhos, 10 …”

“…No entanto, dentre os quinze estudos incluídos, oito 10,18,20,21,23,25,26,27 não encontraram associação significativa entre o LP e o HCV, o que reflete que os resultados encontrados na metanálise diferem de alguns dados da literatura, provavelmente em função do tamanho da mostra estudada. Os diferentes critérios de seleção dos pacientes dos estudos, o aspeto demográfico e o controle e a exclusão ou não dos pacientes em uso de medicamentos que podem causar reações liquenóides, revelam as diferenças metodológicas de cada estudo de caso -controle.…”