title: Topical pimecrolimus effect on Fas inducing apoptosis in oral lichen planus: a clinical immunohistochemical study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effectiveness of pimecrolimus treatment in patients not responding to corticosteroid treatment and to investigate its effect on Fas expression on keratinocytes in oral lichen planus (OLP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty patients with OLP were recruited from the Oral Medicine Clinic at the School of Dentistry, Ain Shams University, Egypt. Pimecrolimus 1% cream with a hydrophilic adhesive gel base was applied to the oral lesions, four times daily, for a total of 2 months. A marker lesion was identified and assessed by clinical scoring (CS). The symptomatology score was obtained using a visual analog scale (VAS). Pre-treatment and post-treatment specimens were immunohistochemically stained for detecting Fas.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of clinical scores showed statistically high significant improvement (P = 0.0001). The mean VAS decreased significantly over time as well as the mean of Fas expression (P < 0.05). The overall percentage of reduction from baseline to week 8 was 87%, 93%, and 67% for clinical scores, visual analog score, and Fas expression, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Topical pimecrolimus reduced Fas expression, and it appears to be a promising alternative treatment for OLP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine, Diagnosis, Periodontology and Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. suzan_ibrahim2000@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Suzan S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: Hala H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Hazzaa
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D004396:Coloring Agents; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005782:Gels; D005882:Gingival Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006416:Hematoxylin; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D009824:Ointments; D010147:Pain Measurement; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014060:Tongue Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D004396:Coloring Agents; C491901:FAS protein, human; D005782:Gels; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009824:Ointments; D019014:fas Receptor; C117268:pimecrolimus; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide; D016559:Tacrolimus; D006416:Hematoxylin