title: Efficacy of oral low-dose tretinoin (all-trans-retinoic acid) in lichen planus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Retinoids were shown to be effective in the treatment of both oral and cutaneous forms of lichen planus.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Confirm the beneficial effect of low doses of oral tretinoin in lichen planus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen patients with lichen planus were treated in an open study for up to 19 months. Efficacy and safety data were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complete remission was observed in 13 (72%) and marked improvement in 4 (22%) out of 18 patients. Six patients showed moderate and 12 had no side effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tretinoin is a valuable drug when given at low doses to patients with lichen planus who failed to respond to other therapies.
authors.affiliation: Zürich, Pharmaceutical Research, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ott
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bollag
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Geiger
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007641:Keratolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008010:Lichen Planus / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D007641:Keratolytic Agents; D014212:Tretinoin