Lack of Association between Oral Lichen Planus and Hepatitis B and C Virus Infection - a Report from Southeast Iran

Abstract

Background: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic autoimmune disease with an unknown etiology. Dentists<br />are usually the first medical practitioners to diagnose this condition although it also affects body parts other than<br />the oral mucosa. Several studies have reported an association between the OLP and hepatitis B and C infections.<br />This study aimed to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) antigen and hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies<br />in patients with OLP compared with healthy controls. Methods: In this case‒control study, 50 patients with clinical<br />and histopathological characteristics of OLP, and 50 age- and sex-matched healthy controls supplied serum samples<br />(5 mL) for evaluation by ELISA. Data were analyzed using SPSS Software, version 21. Chi-square test was applied as<br />appropriate. Results: In this study, the 50 patients with OLP (33 females and 17 males) had a mean age of 42.0 ± 14.5<br />years, and the 50 healthy subjects (33 females and 17 males) a mean age of 41.9 ± 13.7 years. None demonstrated any<br />evidence of HBV antigen or HCV antibodies. Discussion: We could not detect any association between OLP and viral<br />hepatitis. This could be attributed to a lower prevalence of hepatitis viruses compared to other countries or genotypic<br />variation or other etiological factors contributing in our cases.