Amlexanox is as effective as dexamethasone in topical treatment of erosive oral lichen planus: a short-term pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of short-term and topical application of amlexanox paste in the treatment of erosive oral lichen planus (EOLP).


METHODS
A randomized, positive-controlled clinical trial was conducted from September 1 to December 31, 2009. Thirty-eight patients with EOLP received amlexanox paste (n = 20) or dexamethasone paste (n = 18) for 7 days. Outcome measures included size of erosive area and visual analog scale (VAS) scores.


RESULTS
After 7 days of treatment, both groups showed significant reduction in erosive area and VAS scores (P < .001). There was no difference between groups in the reduction of erosive area (P = .937) and VAS scores (P = .161). None of the patients had severe adverse reactions.


CONCLUSIONS
Topical application of amlexanox appeared as effective as dexamethasone in the treatment of EOLP and no serious side effects were found in this pilot study.
Aviation General Hospital, Beijing, China.
Ji
J
Fu
Xiaohan
X
Zhu
Hongxia
H
Dan
Yu
Y
Zhou
Chuanxia
C
Liu
Fang
F
Wang
Yanzhong
Y
Li
Na
N
Liu
Qianming
Q
Chen
Yi
Y
Xu
Xin
X
Zeng
Lu
L
Jiang
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000631:Aminopyridines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D000631:Aminopyridines; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003907:Dexamethasone; C045742:amlexanox