Hepatitis C virus infection prevalence in lichen planus: examination of lesional and normal skin of hepatitis C virus-infected patients with lichen planus for the presence of hepatitis C virus RNA

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the main cause of parenterally transmitted non-A, non-B viral hepatitis. In recent years, a significant association between lichen planus and chronic HCV infection has been reported. Anti-HCV antibody status was evaluated by ELISA in 54 patients with lichen planus and 54 patients with minor dermatological disorders. PCR was used to examine HCV RNA from serum and lesional and nonlesional cutaneous biopsy samples of HCV-infected patients. Seven patients with lichen planus (12.9%) and two patients in the control group (3.7%) were anti-HCV antibody positive. Five out of seven patients with anti-HCV antibodies had demonstrable HCV RNA in lesional skin biopsies. The viral RNA was absent in three out of four patients with lichen planus whose serum samples were positive for HCV RNA and agreed to biopsy of nonlesional skin. The prevalence of HCV infection is not increased in Turkish patients with lichen planus. However our findings suggest that the virus may play a potential pathogenic role by replicating in cutaneous tissue and triggering lichen planus in genetically susceptible HCV-infected patients.     

Detection of hepatitis C virus RNA and core protein in keratinocytes from patients with cutaneous lichen planus and chronic hepatitis C

Cutaneous lichen planus has been associated in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection. It is still unknown whether hepatitis C virus infects keratinocytes of lichen planus lesions. In this report we have analyzed the presence of genomic and anti-genomic hepatitis C virus RNA in skin biopsies from 26 patients with chronic hepatitis C and healthy skin and from 24 patients with cutaneous lichen planus (five with and 19 without hepatitis C virus infection) by in situ hybridization. Hepatitis C virus RNA was detected in the keratinocytes of 69% of the patients with healthy skin and chronic hepatitis C, in 100% of the patients with lichen planus and hepatitis C virus infection, and in none of lichen planus patients without hepatitis C virus infection. The percentage of keratinocytes showing genomic or anti-genomic hepatitis C virus RNA was statistically lower (p < 0.01 in all cases) in patients with healthy skin (mean +/- SD: 5.7 +/- 3.5% and 2.7 +/- 3.1% of keratinocytes with genomic or anti-genomic hepatitis C virus RNA, respectively) than in those with lichen planus lesions (31.7 +/- 7.9% and 18.8 +/- 7.4%, mean +/- SD) or the unaffected adjacent skin (24.8 +/- 6.9% and 14.3 +/- 3.8%, mean +/- SD). In conclusion, we have demonstrated that hepatitis C virus infects keratinocytes from patients with lichen planus and hepatitis C virus infection.     

Immunoperoxidase evaluation of lichen planus biopsies for hepatitis C virus

Background Lichen planus is a papulosquamous dermatosis which has recently been linked to infection with hepatitis C virus. It is unclear whether or not viral antigens may be present in the cutaneous lesions of lichen planus.
Materials and methods Twenty-five paraffin-embedded samples of glabrous lichen planus were evaluated using immunoperoxidase staining for the presence of hepatitis C virions. Control tissues consisted of hepatitis C-infected hepatic tissue ( n = 2), normal hepatic tissue ( n = 2), normal human skin ( n = 1), and two cutaneous biopsies of lichen planus from persons known to be infected with hepatitis C.
Results The sections of hepatitis C-infected liver tissue stained positive for hepatitis C virions. The 25 biopsies of glabrous lichen planus, the two biopsies of lichen planus from hepatitis C patients, the two sections of normal liver, and the one normal skin sample all failed to take up the stain.
Conclusions Cutaneous lesions of lichen planus are more probably reactive to the underlying infection than a manifestation of skin involvement by this disease. This theory is supported by the histologic findings in a lichenoid drug eruption, which are virtually identical to those of idiopathic lichen planus. Insufficient sensitivity by the immunoperoxidase procedure used is a possible explanation for our results; however, it appears more probable that no virus exists at the sites of cutaneous involvement.     

Linear lichen planus and hepatitis C

A 23-year-old man with hepatitis C was observed with brownish dome-shaped papules in a linear pattern on the chest. The papules were determined clinically and pathologically to be linear lichen planus. These lesions appeared during an interferon-alpha therapy for his hepatitis and resolved after topical treatment with tacrolimus ointment. Linear lichen planus and hepatitis C have been reported only twice previously. The association between these disorders and the potential role of interferon therapy are discussed.     

No association between seropositivity for hepatitis C virus and lichen planus: a case control study

BACKGROUND: The epidemiological association of lichen planus (LP) with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been recorded from some countries and HCV RNA3 has been isolated from lesional skin in patients with LP and chronic HCV infection. The observed geographical differences regarding HCV infection and LP could be immuno-genetically related. AIM: To determine whether HCV has a causal relationship with LP. METHODS: Histopathologically proved cases of LP were subjected to antibody to HCV test by the Third Generation Enzyme Immunoassay Kit for the detection of antibody to HCV (Anti-HCV) in human serum or plasma. They were routinely screened in the virology department by the reagent kit, HIVASE 1 + 2, adopting the "direct sandwich principle" for the assay to detect antibodies to HIV-1 and/or HIV-2. There were 150 age and sex matched controls (not suffering from LP) and HIV-I and II negative, and negative for HCV. RESULTS: Of the 104 patients studied only 2 patients (1.92%) of generalized LP with disease duration of more than 3 months were found to be positive for antibodies to HCV. This was not a significant finding and no statistical methods, e.g. Chi square test etc. could be applied. CONCLUSION: Hepatitis C virus is not significant to the causation of LP in India.     

A study on the association with hepatitis B and hepatitis C in 1557 patients with lichen planus

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.     

Lichen planus, erythema nodosum, and erythema multiforme in a patient with chronic hepatitis C.

After identification of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) in 1989, evidence was established supporting its role in the pathogenesis of a number of cutaneous diseases. This evidence ranges from mere epidemiologic associations, such as lichen planus, to molecular biological investigations that have identified the virus in the pathologic tissues of cutaneous vasculitis, vasculitis with mixed cryoglobulinemia, and porphyria cutanea tarda. We describe a 52-year-old man who was diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C, preceding the appearance of lichen planus, erythema nodosum, and erythema multiforme that coincided with the reactivation of viral replication.     

Increased frequency of HLA-DR6 allele in Italian patients with hepatitis C virus-associated oral lichen planus

BACKGROUND: Recent controlled studies have confirmed that hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the main correlate of liver disease in patients with lichen planus (LP), mainly in southern Europe and Japan. However, a low prevalence of HCV infection has been found in LP patients in England and northern France, and significant differences in serum HCV RNA levels or HCV genotypes have not been found between LP patients and controls. Thus host rather than viral factors may be prevalent in the pathogenesis of HCV-related LP. The HLA-DR allele may influence both the outcome of HCV infection and the appearance of symptoms outside the liver. OBJECTIVES: To assess whether major histocompatibility complex class II alleles play a part in the development of HCV-related LP. METHODS: Intermediate-resolution DRB typing by hybridization with oligonucleotide probes was performed in 44 consecutive Italian oral LP (OLP) patients with HCV infection (anti-HCV and HCV RNA positive), in an age, sex and clinically comparable disease control group of 60 Italian OLP patients without HCV infection (anti-HCV and HCV RNA negative), and in 145 healthy unrelated Italian bone marrow donors without evidence of liver disease or history of LP and with negative tests for HCV. RESULTS: Patients with exclusive OLP and HCV infection possessed the HLA-DR6 allele more frequently than patients with exclusive OLP but without HCV infection (52% vs. 18%, respectively; Pc (Pcorrected) = 0.028, relative risk = 4.93). We did not find any relationship between mucocutaneous LP, HCV infection and HLA-DR alleles. CONCLUSIONS: HCV-related OLP therefore appears to be a distinctive subset particularly associated with the HLA class II allele HLA-DR6. This could partially explain the peculiar geographical heterogeneity of the association between HCV and LP.     

Relationship between lichen planus and hepatitis C virus

The present study was conducted on 75 patients of lichen planus to observe the relationship of hepatitis C virus. Only 2 cases (2.66%) were positive for the hepatitis C virus antibody, which is almost parallel to the prevalence of hepatitis C virus in the general population in India (1.5 to 2.2%).     

扁平苔藓和丙型肝炎病毒

扁平苔藓是一种原因不明的炎症性皮肤病,其患病率为0.5%～2%.目前认为,扁平苔藓可能是一种自身免疫性疾病.丙型肝炎病毒被证明其伴随着一系列肝外表现,包括扁平苔藓,为此,综述扁平苔藓和丙型肝炎病毒的关系,以及病毒感染如何导致扁平苔藓的发生,从而为扁平苔藓合并丙型肝炎病毒感染的临床治疗及早期诊断提供一种思路.     

Cytokine gene polymorphisms in hepatitis C virus-related oral lichen planus

Cytokine polymorphisms may influence both the risk of developing oral lichen planus (OLP) and the outcome of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients and OLP has been frequently associated with HCV infection. The aim of the present study was to analyse whether cytokine polymorphisms may influence the susceptibility to HCV-related OLP. Thirty-five patients with OLP and chronic HCV infection (OLP-HCV+ve) took part in the study. As controls, 44 patients with OLP but without HCV (OLP-HCV-ve) infection and 140 healthy donors were studied. Thirteen cytokine genes with 22 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) were studied. IFN-gamma UTR 5644 genotype frequencies showed an increase in number of A/T heterozygote in OLP-HCV+ve patients compared with OLP-HCV-ve that approached the statistical significance [P = 0.03, P-corrected (PC) = 0.66]. Contrarily, in OLP-HCV+ve patients, the frequency of genotype -308 G/A of the TNF-alpha was decreased, whereas the genotype -308 G/G was increased compared with OLP-HCV-ve (P = 0.0005, PC = 0.011 and P = 0.0016, PC = 0.0352, respectively). OLP patients with and without HCV infection showed a different genetic cytokine background suggesting distinct pathogenetic mechanisms.     

扁平苔藓和丙型肝炎病毒

扁平苔藓是一种原因不明的炎症性皮肤病,其患病率为0.5%～2%.目前认为,扁平苔藓可能是一种自身免疫性疾病.丙型肝炎病毒被证明其伴随着一系列肝外表现,包括扁平苔藓,为此,综述扁平苔藓和丙型肝炎病毒的关系,以及病毒感染如何导致扁平苔藓的发生,从而为扁平苔藓合并丙型肝炎病毒感染的临床治疗及早期诊断提供一种思路.     

扁平苔藓和丙型肝炎病毒

扁平苔藓是一种原因不明的炎症性皮肤病,其患病率为0.5%～2%.目前认为,扁平苔藓可能是一种自身免疫性疾病.丙型肝炎病毒被证明其伴随着一系列肝外表现,包括扁平苔藓,为此,综述扁平苔藓和丙型肝炎病毒的关系,以及病毒感染如何导致扁平苔藓的发生,从而为扁平苔藓合并丙型肝炎病毒感染的临床治疗及早期诊断提供一种思路.     

扁平苔藓和丙型肝炎病毒

扁平苔藓是一种原因不明的炎症性皮肤病,其患病率为0.5%～2%.目前认为,扁平苔藓可能是一种自身免疫性疾病.丙型肝炎病毒被证明其伴随着一系列肝外表现,包括扁平苔藓,为此,综述扁平苔藓和丙型肝炎病毒的关系,以及病毒感染如何导致扁平苔藓的发生,从而为扁平苔藓合并丙型肝炎病毒感染的临床治疗及早期诊断提供一种思路.     

扁平苔藓和丙型肝炎病毒

扁平苔藓是一种原因不明的炎症性皮肤病,其患病率为0.5%～2%.目前认为,扁平苔藓可能是一种自身免疫性疾病.丙型肝炎病毒被证明其伴随着一系列肝外表现,包括扁平苔藓,为此,综述扁平苔藓和丙型肝炎病毒的关系,以及病毒感染如何导致扁平苔藓的发生,从而为扁平苔藓合并丙型肝炎病毒感染的临床治疗及早期诊断提供一种思路.     

扁平苔藓和丙型肝炎病毒

扁平苔藓是一种原因不明的炎症性皮肤病,其患病率为0.5%～2%.目前认为,扁平苔藓可能是一种自身免疫性疾病.丙型肝炎病毒被证明其伴随着一系列肝外表现,包括扁平苔藓,为此,综述扁平苔藓和丙型肝炎病毒的关系,以及病毒感染如何导致扁平苔藓的发生,从而为扁平苔藓合并丙型肝炎病毒感染的临床治疗及早期诊断提供一种思路.     

扁平苔藓和丙型肝炎病毒

扁平苔藓是一种原因不明的炎症性皮肤病,其患病率为0.5%～2%.目前认为,扁平苔藓可能是一种自身免疫性疾病.丙型肝炎病毒被证明其伴随着一系列肝外表现,包括扁平苔藓,为此,综述扁平苔藓和丙型肝炎病毒的关系,以及病毒感染如何导致扁平苔藓的发生,从而为扁平苔藓合并丙型肝炎病毒感染的临床治疗及早期诊断提供一种思路.     

Evaluation of clinical types of cutaneous lichen planus in anti-hepatitis C virus seronegative and seropositive Nigerian patients

BACKGROUND: The presentation of oral lichen planus in anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) seropositive and seronegative patients was previously evaluated, and the keratotic form of oral lichen planus was found to be more prevalent in anti-HCV seropositive patients. This study evaluated the presentation of cutaneous lichen planus in anti-HCV seropositive and seronegative Nigerians. METHODS: Fifty-seven Nigerians with cutaneous lichen planus were carefully examined to determine the form of lichen planus present. All were screened for the presence of anti-HCV by second-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and grouped as anti-HCV seropositive or anti-HCV seronegative patients. RESULTS: Nine patients were anti-HCV positive. Seven of these seropositive patients had hypertrophic lichen planus. CONCLUSION: Hypertrophic lichen planus in Nigerians is more prevalent with HCV infection.     

扁平苔藓和丙型肝炎病毒

扁平苔藓是一种原因不明的炎症性皮肤病,其患病率为0.5%～2%.目前认为,扁平苔藓可能是一种自身免疫性疾病.丙型肝炎病毒被证明其伴随着一系列肝外表现,包括扁平苔藓,为此,综述扁平苔藓和丙型肝炎病毒的关系,以及病毒感染如何导致扁平苔藓的发生,从而为扁平苔藓合并丙型肝炎病毒感染的临床治疗及早期诊断提供一种思路.     

扁平苔藓和丙型肝炎病毒

扁平苔藓是一种原因不明的炎症性皮肤病,其患病率为0.5%～2%.目前认为,扁平苔藓可能是一种自身免疫性疾病.丙型肝炎病毒被证明其伴随着一系列肝外表现,包括扁平苔藓,为此,综述扁平苔藓和丙型肝炎病毒的关系,以及病毒感染如何导致扁平苔藓的发生,从而为扁平苔藓合并丙型肝炎病毒感染的临床治疗及早期诊断提供一种思路.