A single-center, open-label, prospective pilot study of subcutaneous efalizumab for oral erosive lichen planus.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of efalizumab in the treatment of oral erosive lichen planus.


METHODS
A single-center, open-label, prospective pilot study. The primary efficacy outcome measure was the change in oral mucosal surface area involvement after 12 weeks of treatment. Secondary outcome measures included the 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS) for pain and a modified Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) questionnaire.


RESULTS
Four adult patients with oral erosive lichen planus were enrolled and treated with efalizumab 0.7 mg/kg subcutaneously at week 0 followed by 1.0 mg/kg weekly from week 1 to week 11. The mean reduction in the affected mucosal surface area was 71.1% (range 57.3% to 96.8%). The mean improvement in the 100-mm VAS for pain was 82%. The mean improvement in the OHIP-14 questionnaire was 69.3%. Significant adverse events included hospitalization for urticaria and a staphylococcal abscess of an artificial hip joint in one patient and drug-induced subacute cutaneous lupus in another patient.
Heffernan
Michael P
MP
Division of Dermatology, Wright State University, Dayton, OH 45408-1445, USA. michael.heffernan@wright.edu
Smith
David I
DI
Bentley
Danette
D
Tabacchi
Mary
M
Graves
Julia E
JE
D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008178:Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014581:Urticaria / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; C472181:efalizumab