Oral Lichen Planus as an Extra-hepatic Manifestation of Viral Hepatitis-Evaluation in Indian Subpopulation.

BACKGROUND Oral Lichen Planus (OLP) is considered to be associated with numerous systemic conditions one of which includes Chronic Liver Disease (CLD). Hepatitis virus B and C (HBV and HCV) have known to be important causative agents of CLD and can be prevalent in asymptomatic carriers that can make them difficult to identify. Off late, the association of viral hepatitis with OLP has been a subject of controversy due to conflicting reports. Indian studies on this regard are sparse to evaluate the same. Association between the hepatitis virus and OLP, if present and established, can be of great help to format a protocol for identifying carrier states of viral hepatitis due to HBV and HCV. METHODOLOGY Forty five cases of clinically and histologically confirmed OLP were subjected to a serological screening of hepatitis B and C viruses by detection of hepatitis B surface antigen and anti-hepatitis C virus antibodies. RESULTS None of OLP cases were seropositive for the hepatitis viruses. CONCLUSION We could not demonstrate any association between OLP and viral hepatitis. This could be attributed to lower prevalence of hepatitis viruses compared to the countries hyper endemic for these viruses or genotypic variation of the viruses or other etiological factors contributing for the present group of patients.