LICHEN-PLANUS AND HEPATITIS-C VIRUS IN THE NORTHERN KYUSHU REGION OF JAPAN

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a common oral disorder that manifests a mu cosal reaction to a variety of aetiological factors, including liver d isorder. This study investigated the relationship between OLP and hepa titis C virus (HCV) infection by studying the prevalence of hepatitis B and C virus infection or liver disease in 45 patients with OLP in th e Northern Kyushu region of Japan where the prevalence of HCV infectio n is the highest in the country. Serum hepatitis B virus surface antig en (HBsAg) was positive in only four patients. Serum anti-HCV or serum HCV RNA was positive in 28 (62%) and 27 (60%) of 45 OLP patients, res pectively. The majority (35 of 45, 78%) of OLP patients suffered from liver disease, including chronic hepatitis C (22/45, 49%), HCV-related liver cirrhosis (two), and HCV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (two) . These results suggest that HCV is a major cause of OLP.