Betel-nut-induced oral lichenoid lesion in oral submucous fibrosis and its relation with liver enzymes and hepatitis C virus-ribonucleic acid

Abstract

Introduction: Reticular, annular, and pigmented lichenoid lesionsare associated with oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF). Both, betel-nut alkaloid and aflatoxin are responsible for hepatic damage. Occurrence of hepatic disorder with hepatitis C infection is associated with lichen planus. Considering the co-relation of oral lichen planus (OLP) with hepatitis C infection and similar lichen-planus-like lesion in OSMF probe to investigate the co-relation of liver enzymes and hepatitis C virus and OSMF associated with oral lichen-planus-like lesion. Methods: A cross-sectional case–control study was conducted on total 60 patients. Out of 60 patients, 20 were with lichen-planus-like lesions with OSMF, 20 with OSMF, and 20 healthy individuals. The sera of the patients and controls were tested for HCV (RNA) using Mini Vidas and liver function tests (bilirubin, transaminases, and alkaline phosphatase). Results: Among the total 60 patients, OLP-like lesions with OSMF patients had higher serum bilirubin, transaminases, and alkaline phosphatase level as compared with control patients. Conclusions: Increased titer of HCV-RNA with increased liver enzymes was found in OSMF with betel-nut-induced lichenoid lesions. This demonstrates the dual action of betel-nut alkaloids with plausible role of aflatoxin in liver damage in OSMF.

Keywords

• Alkaline phosphatase
• hepatitis C virus-ribonucleic acid
• oral submucous fibrosis
• serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase
• serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase