Comparative effect of tacrolimus 0.1% ointment and clobetasol 0.05% ointment in patients with oral lichen planus

AbstractBackground: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is considered to be an autoimmune diseaseof unknown aetiology that affects the mucosae, especially the oral cavity.Objective: We compared tacrolimus 0.1% ointment and clobetasol 0.05% ointmentfor the treatment of OLP.Patients and Methods: A total of 32 patients (20 females and 12 males; all white,Italian origin, mean age of 43.6 18.4 years; 16 patients per treatment group) weretreated with tacrolimus or clobetasol ointment for 4 weeks in a randomized,double-blind, clinical trial. Pain severity, burning sensation, and mucosal lesionextension were assessed using a four-point scale.Results: At the end of the treatment period, symptom scores were significantly lowerin the tacrolimus group than in the clobetasol group.Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that tacrolimus 0.1% ointment is moreeffective than clobetasol propionate 0.05% ointment in the treatment of OLP.However, other studies are needed to confirm the effectiveness of this treatment beforeit can be recommended for use in clinical practice.