Should we routinely check for hepatitis B and C in patients with lichen planus or cutaneous vasculitis?

Abstract

The study aimed to determine the prevalence of HBs-Ag and anti-HCV antibodies in a group of 43 patients with lichen planus and 19 patients with cutaneous vasculitis versus 30 controls. The results showed that 12 (27.9%) patients with lichen planus were positive for HBs-Ag, 9 (20.9%) were positive for anti-HCV antibodies and 3 (7%) were positive for both. In cutaneous vasculitis patients, 3 (15.8%) were HBs-Ag-positive, 7 (36.8%) were anti-HCV-positive and 3 (15.8%) were positive for both. In the control group, 8 (26.7%) were HBs-Ag positive, 3 (10%) were anti-HCV-positive and 1 (3.3%) was positive for both. These values were not statistically significant.