International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Clinical Science 2017; 3(2): 14-17 http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/j/ijbecs doi: 10.11648/j.ijbecs.20170302.12 ISSN: 2472-1298 (Print); ISSN: 2472-1301 (Online) Case Report Asymptomatic Hepatitis C in Patient with Oral Lichen Planus: A Case Report Suresh Kumar Sachdeva 1, * , Purnendu Rout 2 , Debahuti Patnaik 3 , Ashok Galav 4 1 Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Surendera Dental College & Research Institute, Sri Ganganagar, India 2 Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Kalinga Institute of Dental Sciences, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, India 3 Department of Orthodontics, Kalinga Institute of Dental Sciences, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, India 4 Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Tatya Saheb Kore Dental College & Research Centre, Kohlapur, India Email address: drsureshsachdeva7184@gmail.com (S. K. Sachdeva) * Corresponding author To cite this article: Suresh Kumar Sachdeva, Purnendu Rout, Debahuti Patnaik, Swati Saggar Sachdeva. Asymptomatic Hepatitis C in Patient with Oral Lichen Planus: A Case Report. International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Clinical Science. Vol. 3, No. 2, 2017, pp. 14-17. doi: 10.11648/j.ijbecs.20170302.12 Received: June 3, 2017; Accepted: June 22, 2017; Published: October 18, 2017 Abstract: Lichen planus (LP) is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects the oral mucous membrane/skin with a variety of clinical presentations. Oral Lichen Planus (OLP) is considered to be associated with numerous systemic conditions one of which includes hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The geographic variation of the hepatitis C prevalence proved to be an important factor influencing the statistical results of the studies analyzing the association of the oral plan lichen with the hepatitis C virus. LP patients have about a fivefold higher risk than the controls of being HCV seropositive, with geographic variability, being most prevalent in the region of Japan, Mediterranean countries and the USA. Treatment outcomes in patients with oral lichen planus associated with chronic hepatitis C virus are often unsatisfactory compared to patients suffering from idiopathic oral lichen planus. Also, the evolution of oral lesions is often fluctuating, with repeated periods of relapse according to the degree of liver function decompensation. Herewith, a case of oral lichen planus in a female patient is reported, which on investigation revealed hepatitis C antibodies. Keywords: Female, Hepatitis C, Lichen Planus, Oral 1. Introduction Lichen planus (LP) is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects the oral mucous membrane/skin with a variety of clinical presentations. Oral Lichen Planus (OLP) is considered to be associated with numerous systemic conditions one of which includes hepatitis C. Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection is one of the major causes of chronic hepatitis but if it is untreated may progress to cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma over a period of time. Oral lichen planus is the one of the extra-hepatic disorders associated with chronic HCV infection. OLP patients have about a fivefold higher risk than the controls of being HCV seropositive, being most prevalent in the region of Japan, Mediterranean countries and the USA. [1] The HCV positive patient may require particular management when dental treatment is required due to bleeding disorders, defective metabolism of many drugs and the risk of nosocomial transmission of HCV. Thus testing for HCV patients with LP can lead to the early diagnosis and treatments and precautions can be useful to avoid further spread. Moreover, because chronic HCV infection can lead to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma and OLP is a potentially malignant disorder, an early diagnosis and a proper management might save lives and being beneficial in reducing health care costs. In the present case, a female reported with oral lichen planus, which on investigation revealed hepatitis C antibodies. Surprisingly, the patient was completely unaware of this condition, being discovered by chance during