Hepatitis C virus chronic infection and oral lichen planus: an Italian case–control study

OBJECTIVEThe aim of the study was to investigate the possible epidemiological relationship between hepatitis C virus (HCV) chronic infection and oral lichen planus (OLP) in centre-south Italy. METHODSIn a case–control study three groups of patients were investigatedgroup 1 (82 patients)patients with histologically confirmed OLP were tested for HCV infection; group 2 (165 patients)patients with chronic HCV infection were examined for OLP; group 3 (466 participants)control grouphealthy individuals who had been hospitalized in the Trauma–Orthopaedic Ward and had been tested for HCV. RESULTSIn group 1, 11.4% of the participants were HCV-positive and HCV was found in 10.8% of the patients above 50 years of age. Eight participants (5.5%) of group 2 showed lesions possibly related to OLPonly two had a histology consistent with OLP. In group 3, 5.4% participants had chronic HCV infection, but HCV was found in 10% of the participants of 50 years and above. A weak overall association between HCV and OLP (odds ratio 2.27; 95% confidence interval 0.94, 5.35; P