title: Comparative Efficacy of Topical Curcumin and Triamcinolone for Oral Lichen Planus: A Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lichen planus (LP) is a chronic inflammatory mucocutaneous disease. Its treatment is often symptomatic and includes topical and systemic corticosteroids. Although corticosteroid therapy is usually successful, it has side effects and thus, an alternative treatment is favorable. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of topical curcumin and triamcinolone for treatment of oral lichen planus (OLP).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, 50 patients (36 women and 14 men) in the age range of 38 to 73 years with OLP were randomly divided into two groups. Each group received 0.1% triamcinolone or 5% curcumin oral paste three times a day for four weeks. Assessment of the appearance score and severity of pain was done at baseline and at the end of two and four weeks and recorded in the patients' questionnaires. The data were analyzed by SPSS 17 software, using the Mann-Whitney and Spearman's tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With respect to pain reduction, nine patients (36%) in the curcumin group and eight patients (32%) in the triamcinolone group showed complete remission. With respect to the appearance score, one patient (4%) in each group showed complete remission. No statistically significant difference was noted between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Application of curcumin is suggested for treatment of OLP because of its desirable anti-inflammatory effects and insignificant side effects.
authors: Assistant Professor, Department of Oral Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Guilan, Iran.
authors: Seid Javad
authors: SJ
authors: Kia
authors: Assistant Professor, Department of Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Shiva
authors: S
authors: Shirazian
authors: Associate Professor, Dental Research Center, Dentistry Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Arash
authors: A
authors: Mansourian
authors: Dentist, Faculty of Dentistry, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Guilan, Iran.
authors: Leila
authors: L
authors: Khodadadi Fard
authors: Student, Scientific Research Center, School of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Sajjad
authors: S
authors: Ashnagar
keywords: Curcumin; Lichen Planus; Triamcinolone