Successful treatment of complex aphthosis with colchicine and dapsone.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effectiveness of colchicine and dapsone, 2 corticosteroid-sparing anti-inflammatory agents, in the treatment of patients with complex aphthosis (recurrent oral and genital aphthous ulcers or severe, almost constant, multiple oral aphthae in the absence of Behçet syndrome).


METHODS
Retrospective review of medical records.


METHODS
Tertiary care medical clinic.


METHODS
Fifty-five patients with complex aphthosis evaluated and treated at Mayo Clinic between January 1, 1998, and July 31, 2007. All the patients were treated according to a therapeutic ladder, starting with colchicine and adding dapsone to treatment of patients who did not have a substantial response (>75% improvement) to colchicine or who discontinued colchicine use because of adverse effects.


METHODS
A substantial response to therapy with colchicine alone, dapsone alone, or colchicine and dapsone combined.


RESULTS
Most patients (44 [80%]) had a substantial response to therapy and had no serious adverse effects.


CONCLUSIONS
Colchicine and dapsone are effective, safe therapies for the treatment of complex aphthosis. Colchicine and dapsone, 2 established drugs also used for gout and leprosy, respectively, and for other dermatologic disorders, should be considered efficacious in the treatment of complex aphthosis.
Lynde
Carrie B
CB
Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Bruce
Alison J
AJ
Rogers
Roy S
RS
D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003078:Colchicine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003622:Dapsone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D013281:Stomatitis, Aphthous / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003622:Dapsone; D003078:Colchicine