BACKGROUND: Lichen planus is a chronic inflammatory dermatosis of unknown etiology. Its association with liver diseases, particularly hepatitis C, has been widely approached since 1990, when serology for the detection of hepatitis C virus became available. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate a possible causal relation between virus C infection and lichen planus. METHODS: Sixty-six patients with lichen planus seen at the Dermatology Department of Santa Casa de Misericórida de Sao Paulo from 2000 to 2003 were included in the study group. The control group comprised volunteer blood donors of the Blood Bank of Santa Casa de Misericórida de Sao Paulo, from October 2001 to October 2002. RESULTS: Five out of the 66 patients with lichen planus had a positive serology for HCV, representing 7.5% in comparison with 0.69% of the blood donors. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings are consistent with those reported in the medical literature. However, further studies are necessary to improve our knowledge on such a controversial relation.
Hepatitis C; Lichen planus; Hepacivirus
