Hepatitis C virus infection and oral lichen planus: a report from the Netherlands

The reported frequency of anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies in groups of cutaneous lichen planus (CLP) and/or oral lichen planus (OLP) patients varies from about 4% to 65%. Most of these studies have been performed in c ountries with a high overall prevalence of HCV infection in the general pop ulation, such as the southern European countries and Japan. Limited data ar e available from areas with a low prevalence of HCV infection. Therefore, w e investigated the prevalence of HCV infection in a series of 55 patients w ith OLP in the Netherlands, which apparently has a low prevalence of HCV in fection. None of the 55 patients revealed serological evidence of antibodie s to HCV. The present data suggest that HCV infection in OLP patients in th e Netherlands is probably not very common. A larger study group with a sex- and age-matched control group is required to advise against routine serolo gical examination for HCV infection in Dutch OLP patients.