Lack of evidence of hepatic disease in patients with oral lichen planus in Serbia

OBJECTIVE: The reported frequency of chronic liver disease, and particularly, Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in patients with oral lichen planus (OLP) shows geographical variation. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of chronic hepatic disease, Hepatitis B virus and HCV infection in patients with OLP and control subjects resident in Serbia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this prospective study 48 patients with OLP (33 women and 15 men, with a mean age of 49.7 years) and 60 control subjects (38 women and 22 men, with a mean age of 46.7 years) were examined for the presence of serological evidence of chronic hepatic disease, Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HCV seropositivity. RESULTS: All patients with OLP had normal liver function. HBsAg was not found in any of the patients with OLP or control group. None of the patients with OLP or control subjects were HCV seropositive. CONCLUSION: Patients with OLP resident in Serbia do not have evidence of chronic liver disease or infection with HBV or HCV. The exact aetiological role between hepatic disease and OLP remains unclear.