title: Comparative effect of tacrolimus 0.1% ointment and clobetasol 0.05% ointment in patients with oral lichen planus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oral lichen planus (OLP) is considered to be an autoimmune disease of unknown aetiology that affects the mucosae, especially the oral cavity.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We compared tacrolimus 0.1% ointment and clobetasol 0.05% ointment for the treatment of OLP.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 32 patients (20 females and 12 males; all white, Italian origin, mean age of 43.6+/-18.4 years; 16 patients per treatment group) were treated with tacrolimus or clobetasol ointment for 4 weeks in a randomized, double-blind, clinical trial. Pain severity, burning sensation, and mucosal lesion extension were assessed using a four-point scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the end of the treatment period, symptom scores were significantly lower in the tacrolimus group than in the clobetasol group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study suggest that tacrolimus 0.1% ointment is more effective than clobetasol propionate 0.05% ointment in the treatment of OLP. However, other studies are needed to confirm the effectiveness of this treatment before it can be recommended for use in clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Morfologico-Biomediche, Sezione di Chirurgia Maxillo-Faciale e Odontostomatologia, Università di Verona, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Corrocher
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Lorenzo
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Martinelli
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mansueto
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Biasi
authors.forename: Pier Francesco
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Nocini
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lombardo
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fior
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Corrocher
authors.forename: Lisa Maria
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Bambara
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gelio
authors.forename: Maria Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Pacor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002990:Clobetasol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D009823:Ointment Bases; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009823:Ointment Bases; D002990:Clobetasol; D016559:Tacrolimus