Efficacy of Combined vs. Monotherapy in Oral Lichen Planus: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the topical therapeutic efficacy of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) (0.2%) plus hyaluronic acid (HA) (0.1%) versus monotherapy in patients with symptomatic oral lichen planus (OLP), as well as to investigate the oxidative stress of saliva under the different treatments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty OLP patients were included in a randomized, double-blind, singlecenter study with a treatment duration of 28 days and 3-month follow-up period. Participants were randomized into three groups: Group I (TA + HA), Group II (TA), and Group III (HA). Treatment efficacy was assessed by means of Thongprasom scale, Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14), and visual analog scale (VAS). In addition, biochemical analyses were performed in order to determine the level of antioxidant biomarkers in saliva, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). RESULTS: All treatments seem to exhibit a significant effect in accordance with Thongprasom scale (p < 0.001), VAS reduction (p < 0.001), and OHIP14 (p < 0.05), which maintains over time. No significant changes in salivary oxidative stress in any of the three groups occurred. CONCLUSIONS: The results exhibited a significant improvement in the treated patients in all three groups. There were no significant changes in salivary stress biomarkers under treatment condition.