Hepatitis C and Oral Lichen Planus: Evaluation of their Correlation and Risk Factors in a Longitudinal Clinical Study

The aim of this study is to evaluate the correlation between hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and oral lichen planus (OLP), and further examine the relationship between age, sex, systemic diseases and drugs with the presence of HCV infection or OLP.

A longitudinal clinical study was carried out from March 2010 to December 2013 with 51 individuals, of whom 33 had been presented with HCV (HCV-positive group) and 18 had OLP (OLP-positive group), in Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil. Hepatitis C virus-positive individuals who presented lesions compatible with OLP were subjected to an intraoral biopsy for histopathological diagnosis, while OLP-positive individuals underwent anti-HCV serological test for diagnosis of HCV infection. Data on age, sex, systemic diseases and drugs used were recorded for later analysis. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics of frequency and by Pearson's Chi-square test, with a 5% significance level (p < 0.05).

Out of the 33 HCV-positive individuals, only one was clinically and pathologically positive for OLP, demonstrating a significant relationship between the presence of HCV infection and the manifestation of OLP (Chi-square test -46.852, p = 7.65 × 10(-12)). None of the individuals in OLP-positive group had HCV infection. The most common systemic diseases were hypertension and diabetes, and the most commonly used drugs were antihypertensives. However, there was no significant relationship between these factors and the presence of OLP or HCV infection (p > 0.05).

There was a significant relationship between HCV infection and manifestation of OLP. Age, sex, systemic diseases and drugs were not identified as risk factors for the development of these diseases.

The OLP could serve as an indicative of HCV infection in asymptomatic patients, thus enabling early diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis and hence, a better prognosis.