[The efficacy of cyclosporin for topical use in oral lichen planus]

Oral lichen planus is a disease characterized by long symptomatic phases unresponsive to the usual therapy. Many groups have used different drugs in the treatment of lichen planus: topically applied retinoic acid, temarotene, antimycotic agents corticosteroids and immunosuppressive agents, with unsatisfactory results. Recently it has been suggested that topical cyclosporine might improve the lesions of oral lichen planus. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of this therapy in our patients. Fourteen patients, 6 males and 8 females, mean age 47 years, with oral lichen planus were enrolled in the study. All the patients were instructed to swish 5 ml of solution (500 mg) of cyclosporine in the mouth three times a day for three months. Clinical evaluation was performed before therapy and every two weeks afterwards. At each visit serum levels of cyclosporine, creatinine, total and direct bilirubin and complete blood count were performed. No side effects or blood test alterations were detected in any patient and cyclosporine serum level was always undetectable. Symptoms and oral lesions had a beneficial effect already after one month of therapy. Our results confirm that cyclosporine is useful in the treatment of oral lichen planus.