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A study on the association with hepatitis B and hepatitis C in 1557 patients with lichen planus
S Birkenfeld1, J Dreiher, D Weitzman
1Clalit Health Services Siaal Research Center for Family Medicine and Primary Care Department of Epidemiology and Health Services Evaluation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
Background:
Previous reports have demonstrated contradicting results on the association between lichen planus and hepatitis.
Objectives:
The aim of this study was to investigate the association between lichen planus and viral hepatitis.
Methods:
Patients with lichen planus were compared with controls regarding the prevalence of viral hepatitis in a case-control study using logistic multivariate regression models. The study was performed utilizing the medical database of Clalit Health Services.
Results:
The study included 1557 lichen planus patients over the age of 20 years and 3115 age- and gender-matched controls. The prevalence of hepatitis C in patients with lichen planus was higher than that in the control group (1.9%, 0.4% respectively, P<0.001). In a multivariate analysis, lichen planus was associated with hepatitis C (OR 4.19, 95% CI 2.21; 7.93). The prevalence of hepatitis B in patients with lichen planus was similar to that in the control group (0.9%, 0.5% respectively, P=0.12). A multivariate analysis revealed that lichen planus was not associated with hepatitis B (OR 1.69, 95% CI 0.82; 3.47).
Conclusion:
Lichen planus is associated with hepatitis C but not with hepatitis B. Physicians who care for patients with lichen planus should consider screening patients with lichen planus for hepatitis C.
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