The prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in patients with lichen planus in Gaziantep region of Turkey.

The purpose of this case-control study was to investigate the association between lichen planus (LP) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Gaziantep region of Turkey. Seventy-three patients with LP and a control group of patients (n: 73) with a dermatological disorder other than LP were detected for HCV infection using a third generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A serological positivity for HCV was found in five of LP patients (6.84%), whereas it was positive for only one patient of the control group (1.36%). A statistically significant difference was found between LP and control groups (p < 0.05). We conclude that the coexistence of the two diseases is probably more than coincidental.