Miftakhul Cahyati

Oral Medicine Department, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Brawijaya University, Malang, Indonesia

Abstract

Introduction:  Oral   lichen   planus is   a chronic mucocutanous condition   of unknown aetiology. It has been suggested that there may be a relationship between infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and the development of oral lichen planus  - although the suggestion is still controversial. It is also common that patients with HCV infection may have a thrombocytopenia and could be at higher risk of HIV.

Case Report: We report the case of a 56-year-old female patient who complained of chronic oral ulcers and spontaneous bleeding from the  lips. Later, with time and further follow ups we discovered a chronic clinical presentation consistent with oral lichen planus.

Furthermore in this report we discussed thrombocytopenia in patients with HCV infection as a possible aggravating factor that masked the presentation of oral lichen planus.

Conclusion: Management of this patient including a joint treatment with haematology colleagues to improve the thrombocytopenic condition and to treat the  oral lichen planus.