Impact of Hepatitis C Virus on Oral Health: Clinical Lesions, Immunopathology, and Dental Management: A Narrative Review Publisher Pubmed



Alarconsanchez MA ; Henaodiaz V ; Escotovasquez LS ; Martineznieto M ; Gonzalezalvarez GE ; Muradyan AA ; Heboyan A ; Lomelimartinez SM
Source: International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology Published:2026

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major global public health problem. Although it has traditionally been linked to liver damage, several studies have demonstrated its extrahepatic impact, specifically in the oral cavity. Oral manifestations can be considered early signs of infection or contribute to clinical progression. This narrative review aims to describe the oral alterations associated with HCV, integrating the pathophysiological mechanisms and clinical implications for dental management. The most prevalent manifestations include periodontal disease, oral lichen planus, Sjogren’s syndrome-like sialadenitis, and squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity. Recent findings suggest that HCV triggers dysbiosis of the oral microbiome, promotes exacerbated immune responses with overproduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and disrupts the homeostatic environment, thereby promoting the progression of inflammatory and neoplastic diseases. In addition, viral RNA has been identified in saliva and gingival crevicular fluid, which could be considered a non-parenteral route of transmission, particularly important in dental interventions. In parallel, direct-acting antiviral therapy, in addition to achieving virus elimination, could also partially correct immunological and microbial disruptions in the cavity, with favorable clinical responses. Understanding these oral alterations can guide dentists in early detection and improve systemic outcomes. © The Author(s) 2026. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access pages (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).