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No association between seropositivity for hepatitis C virus and lichen planus: a case control study
Arup Das1, Jayasri Das, Gautam Majumdar
1Department of Dermatology, School of Tropical Medicine, Kolkata, India.
Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology
|June 13, 2006
Summary
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is not significantly linked to causing lichen planus (LP) in India. A study found no significant association between HCV antibodies and LP patients, suggesting other factors may be involved.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Virology
- Immunology
Background:
- Epidemiological studies suggest a potential link between lichen planus (LP) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.
- HCV RNA has been detected in skin lesions of LP patients with chronic HCV infection.
- Geographical variations in LP and HCV prevalence may indicate immuno-genetic factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate a potential causal relationship between Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and Lichen Planus (LP).
Main Methods:
- 104 histopathologically confirmed LP cases were tested for Anti-HCV antibodies using Third Generation Enzyme Immunoassay.
- Patients were also screened for HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies.
- 150 age and sex-matched controls, negative for LP, HCV, and HIV, were included.
Main Results:
- Only 2 patients (1.92%) with generalized LP and disease duration over 3 months tested positive for Anti-HCV antibodies.
- The observed positivity rate was not statistically significant.
- No statistical analysis (e.g., Chi-square test) could be applied due to the low number of positive cases.
Conclusions:
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV) does not appear to be a significant causative agent for lichen planus (LP) in the Indian population.
- The findings do not support a causal link between HCV infection and LP in this study cohort.
- Further research may be needed to explore other potential etiologies of LP.
