Association between hepatitis C virus infection and oral lichen planus in Israeli patients.

BACKGROUND Oral lichen planus is a cell-mediated immune condition of unknown etiology. A possible association of OLP with hepatitis C virus infection has been documented in specific populations. However, no such possible association has been studied in Israel. OBJECTIVES To assess the prevalence of HCV antibodies among patients with OLP in Israel. METHODS The prevalence of HCV seropositivity was studied in OLP patients (n=62) and compared with that of a control group (n=65) and with the prevalence among healthy volunteer blood donors (n=225,452) as representatives of the general population. RESULTS The prevalence of HCV, as detected by the presence of anti-HCV antibodies screened by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and confirmed by recombinant immunoblot assay, was 4.8%, 1.5% and 0.1%, respectively. HCV seropositivity in the OLP patients was significantly higher than in the healthy blood donors (P< 0.001). CONCLUSIONS A possible association between OLP and HCV is suggested. Therefore, screening OLP patients for antibodies to HCV is recommended.