Topical triamcinolone acetonide, oral methotrexate, and a combination of topical triamcinolone acetonide and oral methotrexate in the management of oral lichen planus- A comparative study

This paper aims to compare 0.1% topical triamcinolone acetonide, oral methotrexate, and a combination of 0.1% topical triamcinolone acetonide and oral methotrexate in the management of oral lichen planus. 60 histologically confirmed cases of oral lichen planus were divided into 3 groups. Group T was given 0.1% topical triamcinolone acetonide, group M was given topical methotrexate and group C was given combination of both 0.1% topical triamcinolone acetonide and oral methotrexate. Clinical severity score and VAS was compared. The mean CSS at baseline was 5.4 in group T, 4.2 in group M and 4.1 in group C and at 4 months was 2.6 in group T, 2.1 in group M and 0.82 in group C. Baseline VAS was 6.5 in group T, 6.2 in group M and 7.1 in group C and at 4 months was 2.5 in group T, 1.3 in group M and 0.25 in group C. Group T had 3.2 years, group M had 3.1 years and group C had 3.3 years of duration of symptoms. It is concluded that the combination of triamcinolone and methotrexate exhibited maximum relieve of symptoms in patients with oral lichen planus.