No association between seropositivity for hepatitis C virus and lichen planus: a case control study.

BACKGROUND: The epidemiological association of lichen planus (LP) with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been recorded from some countries and HCV RNA3 has been isolated from lesional skin in patients with LP and chronic HCV infection. The observed geographical differences regarding HCV infection and LP could be immuno-genetically related. AIM: To determine whether HCV has a causal relationship with LP. METHODS: Histopathologically proved cases of LP were subjected to antibody to HCV test by the Third Generation Enzyme Immunoassay Kit for the detection of antibody to HCV (Anti-HCV) in human serum or plasma. They were routinely screened in the virology department by the reagent kit, HIVASE 1 + 2, adopting the "direct sandwich principle" for the assay to detect antibodies to HIV-1 and/or HIV-2. There were 150 age and sex matched controls (not suffering from LP) and HIV-I and II negative, and negative for HCV. RESULTS: Of the 104 patients studied only 2 patients (1.92%) of generalized LP with disease duration of more than 3 months were found to be positive for antibodies to HCV. This was not a significant finding and no statistical methods, e.g. Chi square test etc. could be applied. CONCLUSION: Hepatitis C virus is not significant to the causation of LP in India.

Disordered structure and function of liver in HIV/AIDS--a study of thirty cases.

To study abnormalities in liver associated enzymes and histology in AIDS patients with common infections like hepatotrophic viruses and mycobacteria. 30 cases of HIV/AIDS were studied for any significant pattern emerging. The male:female ratio was 4.26:1, occupation being long-distance truck drivers (30%); migrant goldsmiths (27%); migrant labourers (24%). Duration of illness from onset was within three months (46%) and the maximum duration was 26 months (2%). The most common presentation was fever (90%), weakness (79%), weight loss (62%) and diarrhoea (62%). The CD4 cell count was between 200-500/microL (33%). LFT showed hyperglobulinemia in patients having CD4 cell count <500/microL. Rise of alkaline phosphatase was seen in 63% with CD4 cell count <200/microL. 66.6% had HBsAg reactivity, 33.3% had positive anti-HCV antibody and 50% had abnormal liver histology. One third of these had systemic opportunistic infections like tuberculosis. No correlation could be made between hepatic histology and LFT.

First report in India of HIV transmission through artificial insemination.

A case of HIV-1 transmission through artificial inseminations from infertility clinics in Kolkata, is reported.