The Efficacy of Topical Triamcinolone Acetonide in Combination with Retinoic Acid in Orabase in the Treatment of Oral Lichen Planus: a clinical trial Study

Background: There are many therapeutic modalities for oral lichen planus under trial; however, none has resulted in complete remission of lesions yet. The aim of this study was to evaluate the combination therapy with topical triamcinolone acetate comparing to topical triamcinolone acetate alone in the treatment of oral lichen planus. Methods: Patients were randomly divided into the two groups to receive either 0.1% triamcinolone alone (group TO) or 0.1% triamcinolone with 0.05% retinoic acid (group TRO). Participants were instructed to apply medication thrice daily and were visited at baseline and after 1, 2, 3, and four weeks of treatment. The size of lesions and symptoms were recorded at each session. Relaps was followed up in a 2-month period. Data were analyzed using Mann–Whitney U-test and through SPSS 13.0 software. Result: The decrease in pain and burning sensation in both groups was similar four weeks after the treatment (P=0.71). All patients in the TRO group (100%) and 85% of patients in the TO group were improved to score 1 0. The decrease in the size of keratosis, atrophic, and erosive form of lesions were different in the two groups significantly (P 0.0001). In the 2nd month follow up, 10% of the TRO group and 15% of the TO group had relapsed which was not statistically significant (P=1). Conclusion: According to the results, retinoid improves the efficacy of the corticosteroid in the suppression of inflammation in oral lichen planus patients and combination of them improves lichen planus lesions more than triamcinolone acetonide alone.