A comparative treatment study of topical tacrolimus and clobetasol in oral lichen planus.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Existing clinical trials have shown that topical corticosteroids are often effective in the management of oral lichen planus (OLP). However, tacrolimus has recently been shown to be an effective treatment of OLP.

OBJECTIVE:

To compare the effectiveness of clobetasol and tacrolimus in the topical management of OLP.

STUDY DESIGN:

In this randomized comparative double-blind study, 30 consecutive patients with oral lesions consistent clinically and histologically with OLP were recruited. The patients were divided into 2 groups to receive clobetasol 0.05% or tacrolimus 0.1% ointment and were treated for 6 weeks.

RESULTS:

The profiles of mean lesion sizes and mean pain measures did not differ between the tacrolimus and clobetasol treatment groups.

CONCLUSION:

We found tacrolimus to be as useful as clobetasol in treatment of OLP. We believe that up-to-date evidence indicates the effectiveness of tacrolimus in treating OLP.

• Authors: Lida Radfar, Robert C Wild, Lakshmanan Suresh
• Journal: Oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology, oral radiology, and endodontics (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod) Vol. 105 Issue 2 Pg. 187-93 (Feb 2008) ISSN: 1528-395X [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 18230389 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Immunosuppressive Agents
• Ointments
• Clobetasol
• Tacrolimus

Topics

• Administration, Topical
• Adult
• Aged
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (administration & dosage)
• Clobetasol (administration & dosage)
• Double-Blind Method
• Female
• Humans
• Immunosuppressive Agents (administration & dosage)
• Lichen Planus, Oral (drug therapy)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Ointments
• Tacrolimus (administration & dosage)
• Treatment Outcome