title: MuGard, an oral mucoadhesive hydrogel, reduces the signs and symptoms of oral mucositis in patients with lichen planus: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if MuGard, a mouthwash shown to reduce the severity of oral mucositis when started before initiating antineoplastic therapy for head and neck cancers, is effective when painful, oral lesions are present in patients with biopsy-proven erosive oral lichen planus.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study at a college of dental medicine. Twenty patients with oral lichen planus were randomly assigned to receive either MuGard (n = 10) or saline-bicarbonate control (n = 10). One teaspoonful of the assigned mouthwash was swished for 1 minute, 5 times a day, for 14 days. Outcome measures (Oral Mucositis Assessment Scale scores and visual analog scale pain scores) were obtained before the start of treatment and repeated on days 2, 7, and 14.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant reductions in all outcome measures occurred in the MuGard-treated group. Number-needed-to-treat (NNT) to achieve a >50% reduction in averaged pain from baseline was 1.25, and to obtain complete relief, the NNT was 2.5.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MuGard significantly reduces pain and ulceration associated with oral mucositis in patients with lichen planus.
authors.affiliation: Professor and Director, Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Nova Southeastern University, College of Dental Medicine, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Inez
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Velez
authors.affiliation: Professor, Oral Diagnostic Sciences, Nova Southeastern University, College of Dental Medicine, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA. Electronic address: Nspielholz@comcast.net.
authors.forename: Neil I
authors.initials: NI
authors.lastname: Spielholz
authors.affiliation: Professor and Chair, Oral Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Nova Southeastern University, College of Dental Medicine, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Siegel
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Restorative Dentistry, Nova Southeastern University, College of Dental Medicine, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Tulia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D009067:Mouthwashes; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate