Clinical and Histopathologic Analysis of the Relationship between Lichen Planus and Chronic Hepatitis C

Abstract

A prospective clinical investigation of 45 patients with lichen planus (LP) demonstrated a significant association between LP and chronic hepatitis C. Anti-hepatitis C virus (HCY) antibodies were found in 17 (37.8%) of the 45 LP patients. This was significantly higher than in the controls. This higher prevalence of anticHCV antibodies was found equally in both male and female patients in the three types of LP; cutaneous only type, mucous only type, and both cutaneous and mucous type. Most ofthe patients with positive anti-HCV antibodies had abnormal values of transaminase enzymes and/or a past history of chronic hepatitis. Histological and immunohistological investigations of three cases with LP and chronic hepatitis C demonstrated some morphologic similarities between these two diseases. Histopathologic findings of both LP and chronic hepatitis C were based on a T lymphocytic infiltrate with keratinocyte or hepatocyte damage. The degrees of infiltrating cells positive to UCHL-l, MX-panB, Leu-7, and human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR antibodies in the chronic hepatitis C lesions seemed to be similar to those in the LP lesions. These results may support a possible relationship between LP and chronic hepatitis C and the hypothesis that LP may be associated with chronic liver diseases as a result of a cytotoxic attack on the hepatocytes. Table 1. Cases oflichen planus (LP) and controls Subjects and Methods Clinical investigationsForty-five patients with LP were observed in a pointed out since the 1970's (2-6); recently, several reports (7-10) have particularly indicated the involvement of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related chronic hepatitis (chronic hepatitis C) in the development of LP.In this study, we investigated the clinical and histopathologic association of LP with chronic hepatitis C.

Lichen ruber planus nach Hepatitis-B-Impfung

“…Bei bis zu 38% der Patienten mit kutanem und oralem Lichen ruber planus konnten Anti-HCV-Antikörper nachgewiesen werden [16]. Diese Assoziation zeigt eine geographische Abhängigkeit und ist besonders ausgeprägt in den Mittelmeerländern, die eine höhere Prävalenz für HCV aufweisen.…”

Association of lichen planus with hepatitis C virus infection

“…Liver abnormalities are frequently reported in patients with lichen planus. 6,7 Chronic active hepatitis, especially due to hepatitis C virus, is suspected to be a contributing factor. e significant association of erosive lichen planus with chronic hepatitis was demonstrated in a case-controlled study.…”

Switch On/Off of Hepatitis C and Major Chronic Skin Diseases in Egyptian Patients: Study of Prevalence, the Impact of, Gender, Viral Load and the Severity of Liver Disease

“…They suggest that the presence anti epithelial antibodies may be the cause [16]. Tanei et al detected anti-HCV antibodies in sera of 37.8% of Lichen Planus patients; this was significantly higher than the control subjects [17]. But the authors did not exclude patients with negative viremia or coinfected patients by HBV or association with autoimmune disease.…”