Treatments for Cutaneous Lichen Planus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
BACKGROUND
Cutaneous lichen planus (CLP) is an inflammatory dermatosis. Its chronic relapsing course and frequently spontaneous regression hamper the assessment of treatment effectiveness.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of available treatment modalities for CLP.


METHODS
PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), ClinicalTrials.gov registry.


METHODS
We performed a systematic review of the current literature. All randomized controlled trials, nonrandomized case-control studies, and cohort studies with more than one treatment arm were included. The primary outcomes were complete response and time to complete response. The secondary outcomes were partial response, relapse, time to relapse, reduction of itch, the adverse event rate, and withdrawal due to adverse events.


RESULTS
Sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria, of which 11 were randomized controlled trials. Most trials had a small sample size. In the rare studies in which variants other than generalized or classic lichen planus were included, they could not be analyzed separately. Body-of-evidence quality ranged from very low to moderate. Acitretin, sulfasalazine, and griseofulvin were associated with increased overall response rates in comparison with placebo. Narrow-band ultraviolet B radiation (NBUVB) was more effective than 6 weeks' low-dose prednisolone in achieving a complete response, and prednisolone was more effective than enoxaparin. Hydroxychloroquine was more effective than griseofulvin in achieving an overall response. Betamethasone valerate 0.1% ointment had comparable efficacy to calcipotriol ointment. Methotrexate was effective, with a nonsignificant difference in the complete response rate in comparison with oral betamethasone. In nonrandomized controlled trials, oral psoralen plus ultraviolet A photochemotherapy (PUVA) had comparable efficacy to a PUVA bath and NBUVB. Psoralen plus sunlight exposure (PUVASOL) and betamethasone dipropionate 0.05% cream were effective relative to a short course of oral metronidazole.


CONCLUSIONS
Several effective treatment options are available for CLP. Further well-designed studies are warranted to investigate the efficacy of topical glucocorticoids-the current first-line therapy-as well as other treatment modalities, and the treatment of different variants of CLP.
Department of Dermatology, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Hospital, 39 Jabotinski Street, 49100, Petach Tikva, Israel.
Lihi
L
Atzmony
Department of Dermatology, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Hospital, 39 Jabotinski Street, 49100, Petach Tikva, Israel.
Ofer
O
Reiter
Department of Dermatology, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Hospital, 39 Jabotinski Street, 49100, Petach Tikva, Israel.|Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Emmilia
E
Hodak
Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and South District Health Office, Ministry of Health, Beer Sheva, Israel.
Michael
M
Gdalevich
Department of Dermatology, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Hospital, 39 Jabotinski Street, 49100, Petach Tikva, Israel. mimouni@post.tau.ac.il.|Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. mimouni@post.tau.ac.il.
Daniel
D
Mimouni
D017255:Acitretin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017984:Enoxaparin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005363:Ficusin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006118:Griseofulvin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007641:Keratolytic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008010:Lichen Planus / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D065228:Non-Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D011701:PUVA Therapy; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012460:Sulfasalazine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D017984:Enoxaparin; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007641:Keratolytic Agents; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; C055085:calcipotriene; D006118:Griseofulvin; D012460:Sulfasalazine; D002117:Calcitriol; D005363:Ficusin; D017255:Acitretin