Efficacy of topical Aloe vera in patients with oral lichen planus: a randomized double‐blind study

J Oral Pathol Med (2010) 39 : 735–740 Background: Different treatments have been used in application to symptomatic oral lichen planus (OLP), with variable results, perhaps caused by the refractory nature of the disease. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the topical application of aloe vera (AV) in OLP compared with placebo. Methods: A total of 64 patients with OLP were randomized in a double‐blind study to either AV (32 patients) or placebo (32 patients), at a dose of 0.4 ml (70% concentration) three times a day. A Visual Analog Scale was used for rating pain, with the application of a clinical scale for scoring the lesions, the Oral Health Impact Profile 49 (OHIP‐49), and the Hospital Anxiety–Depression (HAD) scale. The patients were evaluated after 6 and 12 weeks. Results: No statistically significant differences were recorded between both groups in relation to pain after 6 and 12 weeks. In the AV group, complete pain remission was achieved in 31.2% of the cases after 6 weeks, and in 61% after 12 weeks. In the placebo group, these percentages were 17.2% and 41.6%, respectively. There were no adverse effects in any of the groups. In relation to quality of life, significant differences were observed between the two groups in the psychological disability domain and total OHIP‐49 score. Conclusion: The topical application of AV improves the total quality of life score in patients with OLP.     

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口腔扁平苔藓(orallichenplanus,OLP)是一种累及口腔黏膜且可反复发作的慢性炎症疾病,患病率为0.51%,在口腔黏膜疾病中居第2位,属常见病。皮肤和黏膜可单独或同时发病,病理表现相似:主要以口腔黏膜不同程度的角化异常、基底层细胞液化变性、上皮下结缔组织中淋巴细胞呈带状浸润为典型表现。     

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提要：口腔扁平苔藓（oral lichen planus,OLP）是口腔黏膜病中最常见且难以治愈的疾病之一。该病反复发作,可迁延终身,对患者身心造成很大痛苦,故寻找切实有效的治疗方法是非常必要的。目前,国内外学者提出了很多治疗OLP的方法,主要有局部激素治疗、全身应用激素及免疫调节剂等方法,同时,中医中药治疗也取得了较好的疗效。本文主要就近年来国内外报道的OLP治疗进展做一综述。     

DNA ploidy in oral lichen planus,determined by image cytometry

J Oral Pathol Med (2010) 39 : 206–211 Background: The objective of this study was to use image cytometry to determine the degree and frequency of DNA ploidy in biopsies of reticular and atrophic‐erosive oral lichen planus and to analyze 14 karyometric measurements of the nuclei of epithelial cells from each specimen. Methods: A total of 40 slides were analyzed, each of them representing one biopsy of one oral lichen planus (OLP) lesion from each one of the 40 patients (cases) studied. Specimens were embedded in paraffin and comprised 20 slides of reticular oral lichen planus (group R) and 20 slides of atrophic‐erosive oral lichen planus (group AE). Results: Group R, the reticular lichen samples, had 18 diploid cases and two aneuploid cases. Group AE, the atrophic‐erosive lichen samples, had 10 diploid cases, one tetraploid case, and nine aneuploid cases. Of the 14 karyometric measurements of the nuclei of OLP epithelial cells analyzed, the group R mean values for mean density and minimum density were significantly greater than the group AE mean values, and mean roundness in group AE was significantly greater than in group R (t‐test: P < 0.05). Conclusions: The most common degree of DNA ploidy in OLP lesions was diploidy. Comparing the two groups (chi‐square test of association P = 0.021) demonstrated that diploidy was associated with the reticular clinical form of OLP, while aneuploidy was associated with the atrophic‐erosive clinical form of oral lichen planus.     

Topical clobetasol in the treatment of atrophic-erosive oral lichen planus: a randomized controlled trial to compare two preparations with different concentrations

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory disease that can be painful, mainly in the atrophic and erosive forms. Numerous drugs have been used with dissimilar results, but most treatments are empirical and do not have adequate control groups or correct study designs. However, to date, the most commonly employed and useful agents for the treatment of LP are topical corticosteroids. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial has been designed to compare the efficacy and safety of two different formulations of clobetasol, a very potent topical steroid, in the topical management of OLP and to evaluate which gives the longest remission from signs and symptoms. Thirty-five consecutive patients were divided into two groups: the first received clobetasol propionate 0.025% and the second was given clobetasol propionate 0.05%. Both drugs were placed in 4% hydroxyethyl cellulose bioadhesive gel. Anti-mycotic prophylaxis was also added. After the end of therapy, patients received a 2-month follow-up. In all, 14 of the 15 clobetasol 0.025% patients (93%) and 13 of the 15 clobetasol 0.05% patients (87%), had symptoms improvement after 2 months of therapy ( P  = 0.001 in both groups). Also, 13 of the 15 clobetasol 0.025% patients (87%) and 11 of the 15 clobetasol 0.05% patients (73%) had clinical improvement after 2 months of therapy ( P  < 0.05 in both groups). No statistical differences were found in comparing the two different formulations. A larger concentration of the active molecules cannot further improve the therapeutic findings or optimize the obtained results in a significant manner.     

Pathogenesis of oral lichen planus – a review

J Oral Pathol Med (2010) 39 : 729–734 Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a T‐cell‐mediated chronic inflammatory oral mucosal disease of unknown etiology. OLP presents as white striations, white papules, white plaques, erythema, erosions, or blisters affecting predominantly the buccal mucosa, tongue and gingiva. Both antigen‐specific and non‐specific mechanisms are hypothesized to be involved in the pathogenesis of oral lichen planus (OLP). Antigen‐specific mechanisms in OLP include antigen presentation by basal keratinocytes and antigen‐specific keratinocyte killing by CD8⁺ cytotoxic T cells. Non‐specific mechanisms include mast cell degranulation and matrix metalloproteinase activation in OLP lesions. These mechanisms may combine to cause T cell accumulation in the superficial lamina propria, basement membrane disruption, intra‐epithelial T cell migration and keratinocyte apoptosis in OLP. The various hypotheses proposed for pathogenesis of oral lichen planus are discussed in this review.     

Topical tacrolimus and pimecrolimus in the treatment of oral lichen planus: an update

J Oral Pathol Med (2010) 39 : 201–205 Background: The search for new drugs capable of controlling the symptoms and signs of oral lichen planus (OLP) with minimal side‐effects remains an important challenge. Objective: A literature review is made to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of topical tacrolimus and pimecrolimus in the treatment of OLP. Material and method: A review was made of the studies published between 1999 and 2008 in relation to the topical application of tacrolimus and pimecrolimus in OLP. Results: The data obtained point to the need for larger randomized, placebo‐controlled studies with carefully selected and standardized endpoints, to allow adequate comparison between treatments. The adverse effects were fundamentally of a local nature, and in particular included burning sensation in the application zone. All the studies consulted found the treatment to be effective over short periods of time, with lesion recurrences after suppression of the drug. The long‐term safety remains to be established. Conclusion: There is need for larger placebo‐controlled, randomized studies with carefully selected and standardized outcome measures.     

Topical pimecrolimus effect on Fas inducing apoptosis in oral lichen planus: a clinical immunohistochemical study

J Oral Pathol Med (2012) 41 : 315–321 Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of pimecrolimus treatment in patients not responding to corticosteroid treatment and to investigate its effect on Fas expression on keratinocytes in oral lichen planus (OLP). Subjects and Methods: Twenty patients with OLP were recruited from the Oral Medicine Clinic at the School of Dentistry, Ain Shams University, Egypt. Pimecrolimus 1% cream with a hydrophilic adhesive gel base was applied to the oral lesions, four times daily, for a total of 2 months. A marker lesion was identified and assessed by clinical scoring (CS). The symptomatology score was obtained using a visual analog scale (VAS). Pre‐treatment and post‐treatment specimens were immunohistochemically stained for detecting Fas. Results: The results of clinical scores showed statistically high significant improvement (P = 0.0001). The mean VAS decreased significantly over time as well as the mean of Fas expression (P < 0.05). The overall percentage of reduction from baseline to week 8 was 87%, 93%, and 67% for clinical scores, visual analog score, and Fas expression, respectively. Conclusions: Topical pimecrolimus reduced Fas expression, and it appears to be a promising alternative treatment for OLP.     

Inflammation‐related cytokines in oral lichen planus: an overview

Cytokines are powerful mediators which play a central role in both innate and adapted immune responses. Aberrant productions of cytokines may lead to the onset of immune deficiency, allergy or autoimmunity, which are involved in the mechanisms of various immune‐mediated inflammatory diseases. Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammation disease affecting the oral mucosa with unknown aetiology. Previous studies have described the abnormal expression patterns of various inflammation‐related cytokines, such as IL‐1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 17, 18, TGF‐β, IFN‐γ and TNF‐α, in lesions, saliva, serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with OLP, which may reflect the immune dysregulation status and emerge as central players in the immunopathogenesis of OLP. Besides, the gene polymorphisms of several cytokines such as IFN‐γ, TNF‐α, IL‐4, IL‐10 have been found to be involved in the susceptibility of OLP. In this review, we gave a brief introduction of the characteristics and biological functions of these inflammation‐related cytokines and summarized for the first time the current knowledge on the involvement of inflammation‐related cytokines in OLP. Further research on the exact roles of these cytokines will aid the understanding of the pathogenesis and the identification of novel therapeutic approaches of OLP.     

Immunohistochemical study of oral keratoses including lichen planus

Biopsies of non-ulcerated oral mucosa from 13 patients with oral lichen planus and 12 patients with leukoplakia were immunohistochemically stained using monoclonal antibodies to pan T, pan B, T helper and T suppressor/cytotoxic cells and the stained lymphocytes enumerated using an image analyser. The results show the preponderance of T cells infiltrating both oral lichen planus and leukoplakia. The T helper: T suppressor/cytotoxic cell ratio was the same (1:2) for both oral lichen planus and leukoplakia. A similar proportion of T suppressor/cytotoxic cells was found infiltrating the epithelium. These data indicate that T cell subset analysis is of no value in distinguishing oral lichen planus from other oral keratoses.     

Periodontal status in patients with oral lichen planus: a study of 90 cases

OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to relate periodontal status to the oral lesions in patients with oral lichen planus (OLP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Periodontal status was evaluated in 90 patients with OLP and in 52 controls, in terms of the plaque index (PII), simplified calculus index (CIS) and periodontal disease index (PDI). RESULTS: No significant differences were observed between the two groups as regards the different periodontal indices. The plaque and calculus indices were higher in the more extensive forms of OLP (P = 0.02 and P = 0.012, respectively), and in the presence of gingival involvement (P = 0.004 and P = 0.04). A significant association was also observed between the presence of atrophic-erosive lesions and increased periodontal deterioration (P = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS: Increased plaque and calculus deposits are associated to a significantly higher incidence of atrophic-erosive gingival lesions in patients with OLP.     

他克莫司治疗糜烂型OLP的随机对照双盲试验

目的：评价0．1％他克莫司治疗糜烂型口腔扁平苔癣（OLP）的疗效和安全性。方法：根据相关标准纳入68例糜烂型OLP患者,随机分成两组,双盲法下分别外用0．1％他克莫司和0．05％丙酸氯倍他索治疗,观察和比较两组的总有效率、不良反应发生率及停药6个月后复发率。结果：他克莫司组和丙酸氯倍他索组总有效率分别为97．1％、93．9％,两组间差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）;两组间复发率分别为6．5％、10．3％,差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）;两组的局部不良反应发生率均较低且无显著差异（P〉0．05）。结论：局部外用他克莫司在改善OLP患者体征（病损面积）和症状（疼痛）方面效果显著;他克莫司治疗OLP的总有效率、治疗期间局部不良反应发生率及停药后复发率均与糖皮质激素相当。     

Oral lichen planus: a retrospective study of 690 British patients

OBJECTIVE: This is the largest UK patient group with oral lichen planus (OLP) to be studied in terms of the demographic and clinical characteristics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were taken from the medical records of 690 consecutive patients referred to Oral Medicine subsequently found to have clinical, and usually histopathological confirmatory features of OLP. Over two-thirds (68.7%) of the patients were Caucasians. RESULTS: Eighty-two per cent of the patients had been referred to a specialist Oral Medicine service by general dental practitioners, 62% of the patients being referred as a consequence of oral mucosal and/or gingival pain. Reticular OLP was the most common intra-oral presentation, but 60% of such lesions were accompanied by other clinical types of OLP. 95% of lesions were bilateral. About 13% of patients reported symptoms or signs, or had a known history of lichen planus or possible lichen planus affecting non-oral epithelia. In only 13% of patients did all signs and symptoms of OLP resolve within 12-246 months (median 35 months). A malignant transformation rate of 1.9% was observed in the present group. CONCLUSIONS: Oral lichen planus in UK persons almost always gives rise to bilateral reticular OLP, rarely resolves spontaneously, and has a low rate of malignant transformation.