Drug treatment of oral submucous fibrosis: a review of the literature.
OBJECTIVE
To review the literature on drug treatment of oral submucous fibrosis.


METHODS
An electronic search was performed for articles published from January 1960 to August 2008.


RESULTS
Only 17 publications were searched, and 15 publications showed a high level of evidence (6 randomized controlled trials, 4 clinical trials/controlled clinical trials, and 5 other experimental studies), with a total of 1,224 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Few studies with high levels of evidence were found. It is quite difficult to compare or even combine their outcomes in a scientifically meaningful manner. Because of insufficient research data, there is a need for high-quality randomized, controlled trials in this area of medicine.
Jiang
Xiaowen
X
State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases and the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Hu
Jing
J
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017364:Collagenases / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006821:Hyaluronoglucosaminidase / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009914:Oral Submucous Fibrosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000975:Antioxidants; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D014131:Trace Elements; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D014815:Vitamins; D006821:Hyaluronoglucosaminidase; D017364:Collagenases