LICHEN-PLANUS AND HEPATITIS-C VIRUS - 5 N EW CASES

Lichen planus is an immunologically mediated skin or mucous disease, w hich has recently been described in some patients with hepatitis C vir us-related liver disease. We report 5 new cases of the association of hepatitis C with lichen planus, to be added to the 15 cases published in the literature. The sex ratio (female/male) was of 1.2. Lichen plan us occurred more frequently in chronic active hepatitis (2/3 of cases) than in cirrhosis (1/3 of cases). Lichen planus manifestations were o nly mucous (30 %), only cutaneous(40 %) or both (30 %). Mucous lesions were mainly observed in patients with cirrhosis (3/4 of cases). The o nset of skin and hepatic manifestations was variable, with liver disea se as the most frequent revealing symptom (60 %). The influence of int erferon remains unclear. However, it seemed to trigger more than to re lieve lichen planus.