Efficacy of laser phototherapy in comparison to topical clobetasol for the treatment of oral lichen planus: a randomized controlled trial.

Abstract

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a relatively common chronic mucocutaneous inflammatory disease and a search for novel therapeutic options has been performed. We sought to compare the efficacy of laser phototherapy (LPT) to topical clobetasol propionate 0.05% for the treatment of atrophic and erosive OLP. Forty-two patients with atrophic/erosive OLP were randomly allocated to two groups: clobetasol group (n=21): application of topical clobetasol propionate gel (0.05%) three times a day; LPT group (n=21): application of laser irradiation using InGaAlP diode laser three times a week. Evaluations were performed once a week during treatment (Days 7, 14, 21, and 30) and in four weeks (Day 60) and eight weeks (Day 90) after treatment. At the end of treatment (Day 30), significant reductions in all variables were found in both groups. The LPT group had a higher percentage of complete lesion resolution. At follow-up periods (Days 60 and 90), the LPT group maintained the clinical pattern seen at Day 30, with no recurrence of the lesions, whereas the clobetasol group exhibited worsening for all variables analyzed. These findings suggest that the LPT proved more effective than topical clobetasol 0.05% for the treatment of OLP.

• Authors: Caroline Siviero Dillenburg, Marco Antonio Trevizani Martins, Maria Cristina Munerato, Márcia Martins Marques, Vinícius Coelho Carrard, Manoel Sant'Ana Filho, Rogério Moraes Castilho, Manoela Domingues Martins
• Journal: Journal of biomedical optics (J Biomed Opt) Vol. 19 Issue 6 Pg. 068002 (Jun 2014) ISSN: 1560-2281 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24887747 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Glucocorticoids
• Clobetasol

Topics

• Administration, Topical
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (administration & dosage)
• Clobetasol (administration & dosage)
• Female
• Glucocorticoids (administration & dosage)
• Humans
• Lichen Planus, Oral (drug therapy, radiotherapy)
• Low-Level Light Therapy
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Treatment Outcome