title: Systemic treatment of cutaneous lichen planus: an update.
abstract: Lichen planus (LP) is a chronic and remitting dermatosis that may be idiopathic or associated with underlying systemic diseases, such as hepatitis C virus. Although numerous cases of LP resolve spontaneously, many cases require systemic treatment. Several therapeutic advances have occurred in the last 10 years: acitretin (30 mg daily for 8 weeks) remains a first-line therapy (level B, controlled clinical trial >20 participants); systemic corticosteroids are second-line therapies (level C, clinical trial <20 participants, or larger trial without appropriate controls); and new data recommend against the use of tetracycline (level C). This article reviews the current status of systemic therapies for cutaneous LP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Asch
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Goldenberg
mesh_terms: D017255:Acitretin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007641:Keratolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008010:Lichen Planus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007641:Keratolytic Agents; D013752:Tetracycline; D017255:Acitretin