title: Efficacy of laser phototherapy in comparison to topical clobetasol for the treatment of oral lichen planus: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a relatively common chronic mucocutaneous inflammatory disease and a search for novel therapeutic options has been performed. We sought to compare the efficacy of laser phototherapy (LPT) to topical clobetasol propionate 0.05% for the treatment of atrophic and erosive OLP. Forty-two patients with atrophic/erosive OLP were randomly allocated to two groups: clobetasol group (n=21): application of topical clobetasol propionate gel (0.05%) three times a day; LPT group (n=21): application of laser irradiation using InGaAlP diode laser three times a week. Evaluations were performed once a week during treatment (Days 7, 14, 21, and 30) and in four weeks (Day 60) and eight weeks (Day 90) after treatment. At the end of treatment (Day 30), significant reductions in all variables were found in both groups. The LPT group had a higher percentage of complete lesion resolution. At follow-up periods (Days 60 and 90), the LPT group maintained the clinical pattern seen at Day 30, with no recurrence of the lesions, whereas the clobetasol group exhibited worsening for all variables analyzed. These findings suggest that the LPT proved more effective than topical clobetasol 0.05% for the treatment of OLP.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, School of Dentistry, Department of Oral Pathology, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul 90035-003, Brazil.
authors.forename: Caroline Siviero
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Dillenburg
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, School of Dentistry, Department of Oral Medicine, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul 90035-003, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marco Antonio Trevizani
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, School of Dentistry, Department of Oral Medicine, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul 90035-003, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Munerato
authors.affiliation: University of São Paulo, School of Dentistry, Department of Dentistry, São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Márcia Martins
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, School of Dentistry, Department of Oral Pathology, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul 90035-003, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vinícius Coelho
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Carrard
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, School of Dentistry, Department of Oral Pathology, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul 90035-003, Brazil.
authors.forename: Manoel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sant'Ana Filho
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan, School of Dentistry, Laboratory of Epithelial Biology, Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1078.
authors.forename: Rogério Moraes
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Castilho
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, School of Dentistry, Department of Oral Pathology, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul 90035-003, Brazil.
authors.forename: Manoela Domingues
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Martins
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002990:Clobetasol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D002990:Clobetasol