Prevalence of hepatitis C in lichen planus

ABSTRACT

Appraise the prevalence of hepatitis C in patients with lichen planus. This is a retrospective study concerning seventeen cases hospitalized for lichen planus between January 1992 December 2001. Hepatic check-up and anti HVC antibodies were searched in all patients. Cutaneous biopsy was systematic. Seventeen patients were hospitalized for lichen planus. The average age was 52.1 years [extreme between 12 years and 75 years]. Four had a positive hepatitis C serology so 23.5 percent of cases. Hepatic check-up was perturbed in three cases. Oral and erosive lesions were presents in here patients. The results of this retrospective study show a high prevalence of hepatitis C in lichen planus particularly with erosive oral lesions suggesting a relation ship between lichen planus and hepatitis C