HLA antigens, SICAM-1, INF-Y and hepatitis C virus antibodies in lichen planus

Fifty one patients with lichen planus [LP] were studied for human Leucocyte antigens. [HLA] [class I and II] by micro lymphocyto toxicity assay, serum levels of soluble Intercellular Adhesion Molecule- 1 [sICAM] and Interferon [IFN- gamma] by Enzyme linked Immuno-Sorbent Assay [ELISA] and by Enzyme Amplified Sensitivity Immunoassay [EASIA] respectively, and the detection of Hepatitis C- virus [HCV] anti bodies by Axsym. [ABBOTT laboratories] Seventy two healthy unrelated individuals were studied as control group. There were significant increased frequencies of HLA-A19, B5, CW5, CW7, DR1, and DQ3; a significant decreased frequencies of HLA-CW3, DR4, DQ1 were found in patients in comparison to controls. When patients with mucous membrane affection were compared to controls, there were increased frequencies of HLA-Al9, B5, CW3, CW7, CW17, DR1 and DQ3. Patients without mucous membrane affection showed increased frequencies of B5, CW5, CW7, DR1, DR9, DQ3 and decreased frequencies of HLA-DR4 and DQl in comparison to controls. No significant differences were found when patients with mucous membrane affection were compared to those without mucous membrane affection. No significant differences were also noticed when the clinical types actinic, classic and hypertrophic LP were compared to each other. Sero-positive HCV patients represented 31.4% of the studied LP patients with significant increased frequencies of HLA-B5, CW5, CW7, DR1, DR9 and DQ3 in comparison to controls. Sero-negative HCV patients showed increased frequencies of HLA-B5, CW5, CW7, CW17, DRJ, and DQ3 and significant decreased frequencies of HLA- DR4 and DQ2. No significant differences were found in HLA antigens between Sero-positive and Sero-negative HCV patients. HLA-DRI was found in 90% of patients. This represented a striking statistically significant result in the present study. No significant differences were noticed in serum levels of sICAM-1 and IFN-gamma in patients when compared to controls and when the clinical subgroups were compared to each other. There was no correlation between sICAM and IFN-gamma in the studied patients. The findings of the present study strongly suggest that a genetic predisposition or susceptibility play a role to some extent in the development of LP

Liver affection in lichen planus

58 lichen planus patients with hepatomegaly of unapparent cause subjected to thorough clinical examination, ultrasound screening, liver function tests hepatitis B markers, antinuclear and antimitochondria antibodies were studied. Ultrasound examination showed a fine hyperechoic parenchyma. Abnormal liver function tests in 50% of cases studied in the form of a significant increase in total and direct serum bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate transminase and alanine transaminase compared to controls. Hepatitis B markers were positive in 17 patients out of 58 cases studied [29.3%]. Antinuclear antibody was positive in 3 patients [5.1%] while the antimitochondrial antibody was negative in all studied cases. From these data we can say that in our patients with lichen planus, liver affection can be present in the from of hepatitis [viral B or auto immune] in 34.4% of cases studied and not in the form of primary biliary cirrhosis