 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| IJCEM Copyright © 2008-All rights reserved. Published by e-Century Publishing Corporation, Madison, WI 53711 |
Int J Clin Exp Med 2013;6(10):917-921
Original Article
Oral lichen planus treated with tacrolimus 0.1%
João Paulo Marinho Resende, Maria das Graças Afonso Miranda Chaves, Fernando Monteiro Aarestrup, Beatriz Vieira Aarestrup,
Sergio Olate, Henrique Duque Netto
Master in Dental Science Program, Universidade Federal de Juis de Fora, Brazil; Center for Biomedical Research, Universidad
Autónoma de Chile, Chile; Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Universidad de La Frontera, Chile; Division of Oral and
Maxillofacial Surgery, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Brazil
Received September 21, 2013; Accepted October 19, 2013; Epub October 25, 2013; Published October 30, 2013
Abstract: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is considered a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease and its presence may be related to
increased emotional stress. The clinical relevance of OLP is the possibility of developing a squamous cell carcinoma, the etiology of
which is still unknown. The aim of this study is to treat OLP lesions resistant to conventional treatment with corticosteroids, using
topical tacrolimus 0.1% (Protopic®) twice a day for a period of eight weeks. Fifteen patients were selected who had filled out a history
form and a visual analog scale for pain before and after treatment. All patients underwent an initial biopsy to diagnose the disease and
another at the end of the treatment period to evaluate the effect of the medication on the infiltrate. A weekly check was carried out,
observing the clinical appearance, pain symptoms and occurrence of side effects which, where present, were mild and transient. The
results showed twelve patients (80%) with total or nearly total remission of pain symptoms and lesions, two patients (13.33%) showed
clearer lesions and only one patient (6.67%) had no change in clinical symptoms or pain. Histopathological analysis showed OLP had
a moderate or strong regression in twelve patients (80%) and an absent or mild regression in three patients (20%). Based on these
results, it was concluded that tacrolimus 0.1% (Protopic®) is a safe and effective medication that improves the clinical appearance of
the lesion, reduces pain as well as the histopathological features of OLP. (IJCEM1309016).
Keywords: Oral lichen planus, tacrolimus, treatment, recalcitrant, corticosteroids
Address correspondence to: Dr. Sergio Olate, Facultad de Odontología, Universidad de La Frontera, Claro Solar 115, 4to Piso, Oficina
20, Temuco, Chile. E-mail: sergio.olate@ufrontera.cl
Original Article
Oral lichen planus treated with tacrolimus 0.1%
João Paulo Marinho Resende, Maria das Graças Afonso Miranda Chaves, Fernando Monteiro Aarestrup, Beatriz Vieira Aarestrup,
Sergio Olate, Henrique Duque Netto
Master in Dental Science Program, Universidade Federal de Juis de Fora, Brazil; Center for Biomedical Research, Universidad
Autónoma de Chile, Chile; Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Universidad de La Frontera, Chile; Division of Oral and
Maxillofacial Surgery, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Brazil
Received September 21, 2013; Accepted October 19, 2013; Epub October 25, 2013; Published October 30, 2013
Abstract: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is considered a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease and its presence may be related to
increased emotional stress. The clinical relevance of OLP is the possibility of developing a squamous cell carcinoma, the etiology of
which is still unknown. The aim of this study is to treat OLP lesions resistant to conventional treatment with corticosteroids, using
topical tacrolimus 0.1% (Protopic®) twice a day for a period of eight weeks. Fifteen patients were selected who had filled out a history
form and a visual analog scale for pain before and after treatment. All patients underwent an initial biopsy to diagnose the disease and
another at the end of the treatment period to evaluate the effect of the medication on the infiltrate. A weekly check was carried out,
observing the clinical appearance, pain symptoms and occurrence of side effects which, where present, were mild and transient. The
results showed twelve patients (80%) with total or nearly total remission of pain symptoms and lesions, two patients (13.33%) showed
clearer lesions and only one patient (6.67%) had no change in clinical symptoms or pain. Histopathological analysis showed OLP had
a moderate or strong regression in twelve patients (80%) and an absent or mild regression in three patients (20%). Based on these
results, it was concluded that tacrolimus 0.1% (Protopic®) is a safe and effective medication that improves the clinical appearance of
the lesion, reduces pain as well as the histopathological features of OLP. (IJCEM1309016).
Keywords: Oral lichen planus, tacrolimus, treatment, recalcitrant, corticosteroids
Address correspondence to: Dr. Sergio Olate, Facultad de Odontología, Universidad de La Frontera, Claro Solar 115, 4to Piso, Oficina
20, Temuco, Chile. E-mail: sergio.olate@ufrontera.cl
