Subset of CD8+ and FOXP3 + T cells in lichen planus associated with chronic hepatitis C infection

Objective To verify whether there are differences between populations of CD8 + and FoxP3 + T cells in lesions of oral lichen planus associated with hepatitis C virus chronic infection (OLP‐HCV) and lesions of idiopathic oral lichen planus (OLP‐I). Materials and Methods A case–control study was performed using a convenience sample of 11 paraffin‐embedded tissue blocks of OLP‐HCV and 19 of OLP‐I. Histological sections stained with haematoxylin and eosin were used to classify the intensity of inflammatory infiltrate. Immunohistochemistry was used to identify CD8 + and FoxP3 + T cells. The count of positive cells was compared between the two groups and correlated to clinical and demographic data (p