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Hepatitis C virus and lichen planus: a review
Nita Chainani-Wu1, Francina Lozada-Nur, Norah Terrault
1Department of Stomatology, Division of Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, and Oral Radiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143-0658, USA. nitacwu@itsa.ucsf.edu
Summary
The link between hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and oral lichen planus (OLP) is controversial. More rigorous studies are needed to confirm any association and guide clinical practice for HCV testing in OLP patients.
Area of Science:
- Oral Medicine
- Hepatology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- The association between hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and oral lichen planus (OLP) is debated.
- Clarifying this relationship is crucial for developing clinical guidelines on HCV testing for OLP patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and synthesize existing literature on the association between OLP and HCV.
- To outline future research directions for this topic.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search was performed using MEDLINE (1966-June 2003) and bibliographies of relevant articles.
- Studies included were those reporting HCV prevalence in OLP patients, OLP prevalence in HCV patients, case-control studies, and investigations into HCV within oral lesions or genotypes.
Main Results:
- Thirty-two studies were identified globally, encompassing prevalence data (HCV in OLP: 0%-62%; OLP in HCV: 1.6%-20%), case-control analyses, HCV replication in oral mucosa, HCV genotypes in OLP patients, and comparative clinical/histologic features.
- Variability in study designs and potential biases were noted across the included research.
Conclusions:
- Current evidence on the OLP-HCV association is insufficient to draw definitive conclusions due to significant biases (selection, investigator, confounding).
- There is a clear need for future research employing robust methodologies to address these limitations and establish a clearer understanding of the relationship.