Prevalence of hepatitis C and hepatitis B virus infection(s) in patients with oral lichen planus

AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in patients with oral lichen planus (OLP) and to compare it with that of general population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 60 patients were included in the study. Patients were selected from the outpatient department of Rama Dental College Research Centre, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Thirty patients with OLP were included in Group 1. Thirty age- and sex-matched healthy patients with no history of oral or skin lesions were included in Group 2. Detailed case history, biopsy (the most representative site of the lesion is chosen for specimen), detection of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and detection of anti-HCV antibody were carried out. RESULTS: The serum of the entire study sample (Group 1 and Group 2) was tested for both hepatitis C antibodies and HBsAgs with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test (using the third generation kit). It was found negative for both HBsAgs and hepatitis C antibodies. CONCLUSION: In the present study, all the samples including OLP patients and healthy patients were seronegative for both hepatitis B (HBsAg) and hepatitis C (HCV antibody).