The treatment of oral aphthous ulceration or erosive lichen planus with topical clobetasol propionate in three preparations: a clinical and pilot study on 54 patients.
BACKGROUND
This study evaluated the clinical use of a corticosteroid in three preparations (topical clobetasol propionate ointment, clobetasol propionate in an oral analgesic base, and clobetasol propionate in an adhesive denture paste).


METHODS
Fifty-four patients (34 males and 20 females) with a history of vesiculo-ulcero-erosive oral lesions were selected: 24 with oral erosive lichen planus and 30 with aphthae. The subjects enrolled were randomly divided into three groups, each of 18 patients (10 with aphthae and 8 with lichen planus): the first was treated with topical clobetasol propionate ointment (0.05%) directly on the lesion(s) three times a day; the second with clobetasol propionate in an adhesive denture paste in equal amounts (1:1) two times a day; the third with clobetasol propionate in an oral analgesic base (Orabase-B) in equal amounts (1:1) two times a day. Each subject scored his or her symptoms daily from most severe (7) to none (0) by verbal assessments using a categorical scale.


RESULTS
In all cases, the administration of the corticosteroid was effective in producing remission of symptoms in each group of patients. Significant differences (P<0.05) between groups were determined by the Kruskal-Wallis test. The Dunn test was used in order to detect which group differs from the others; clobetasol and adhesive denture paste correlated with an early remission of pain in lichen and apthous lesions.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that topical application of clobetasol in an adhesive denture paste is an effective drug for symptomatic oral vesiculo-erosive and/or ulcerative lesions.
Lo Muzio
L
L
Institute of Dental Sciences, University of Ancona, Italy. llomuzio@tin.it
della Valle
A
A
Mignogna
M D
MD
Pannone
G
G
Bucci
P
P
Bucci
E
E
Sciubba
J
J
D000269:Adhesives; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001566:Benzocaine; D002266:Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D002990:Clobetasol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D006801:Humans; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009824:Ointments; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013281:Stomatitis, Aphthous / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000269:Adhesives; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D009824:Ointments; C056627:Orabase; D002990:Clobetasol; D002266:Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium; D001566:Benzocaine